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49 Character Qualities

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Honor vs. Disrespect

"Looking upon and dealing with each person as a valued individual"

 

HONOR - A Four-Minute Sermon

Faith Committee, Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

 

Contributed by Dr. Paul E. Toms

Senior Pastor (Retired), Park Street Church, Boston, MA

May 31, 2001

 

DO YOU SAY HONOR IS IMPORTANT?

 

Outline:

       I.    Introduction
       II.   What is Honor?
       III.  The World Says It Is Important
       IV.  The Bible Says It Is Important
       V.   Application: Do You Say It Is Important?

Our highest national award is the Medal of Honor. Thomas Jefferson said: "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." Cervantes (1547-1616) said, "My honor is dearer to me than my life." What is this all about? What is honor and why is it so important?

There are many definitions of this character quality, such as: esteem, respect, reverence, distinction, credit, a code of dignity and integrity. The Character Council sums it up as "looking upon and dealing with each person as a valued individual".

The world has long said that honor is important. "My honor is dearer to me than my life."(Cervantes 1547-1616) "My honor is my life, both grow as one; take honor from me, my life is done."(W. Shakespeare in King Richard the Second.) "God give us men! A time like this demands men who have honor; men who will not lie." (J.G. Holland 1815-1881) And says Joel B. Wyatt, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University: "Perhaps Vanderbilt's most important role in the interest of our free society is to give the world educated men and women of character, possessing a fundamental integrity that affects both their thoughts and their actions."

The Bible also says honor is important. The Bible informs us we should honor people. For example: 'Honor thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12). Honor government leaders (Romans 13:1-7), widows without families (1 Timothy 5:3-4), the elderly (Leviticus 19:32). In fact, we are to honor every person. "Show proper respect to everyone..." (1 Peter 2:17). "Honor one another above yourselves." (Rom.12:10). "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." (Galatians 6:10).

But not only are we to honor people, we are especially to honor God. The Old Testament clearly reveals this specific truth. In Exodus 12:42 we read, "the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come." Again in 1 Samuel 2:30 "Those who honor me, I will honor...". And in Proverbs 3:9, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops."

In the New Testament, Paul the Apostle said, speaking of his service to the churches, "…we do this in order to honor the Lord himself" (2 Corinthians 8:19). Jesus taught, "all judgment has been entrusted to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him."

As we think about honor as "looking upon and dealing with each person as a valued individual", we clearly recognize God as the most highly valued Person - our Creator, Owner, Ruler, Savior, Sustainer. And in dealing with Him our mission in life is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and as He commands us, to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:29-30) To honor God is to love Him, and to love Him is to obey Him (John 14:21).

In 1 Peter 2:17 we have a summary of the life that pleases God: "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." It teaches us to fear God, this is the vertical aspect. And it teaches us to honor the king, this is the horizontal aspect. God is to be honored in all things - to be loved as the most highly prized Person. And people are to be honored and respected - as His own valued treasures, as those for whom Christ died and in whom the divine likeness can be restored.(See New Bible Commentary: Revised.)

Honor - looking upon and dealing with and each person as a person of worth. The world says honor is important. The Bible says honor is important. The question is, "do you say honor is important"?

It is significant that the Bible says, not only is honor important, but it is very important. For says the Lord:

"Those who honor me, I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." (1 Samuel 2:30)

Will you commit to honoring the Lord? Will you commit today to loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and to loving your neighbor as yourself? Your decision will make a significant difference - to you, the Lord, and others!

The Book of Hebrews says : "…pray for us, we desire to live honorably in every way." (Hebrews 13:18) Reverence for God and Respect for each other. This is the way.

 

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.