Ever notice how much the word
“honor” is a part of what it means to be a Christian? Jesus referred to it in reference to one’s
parents, He gave advice on how to receive it for ourselves, and He used it to
describe a right relationship with God.
I had initiated a Gospel
conversation with Ji, a doctoral student from China. He told me of the small village he is from in
China, and about their spiritual beliefs which have much to do with honoring
one’s ancestors. He explained their
belief, that to honor family members who have passed on brings blessing and prosperity to one’s own life. I find it
interesting that this is very much in line with the biblical principle that children
should honor their parents which is the first commandment with a promise— “so
that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
I could tell that Ji comes
from a cultural heritage where one’s personal and family honor is held in high
esteem. Ji referred to the motive for
good behavior – that it is simply the right thing to do, not for ulterior
motives or worldy or spiritual gain.
Again, I find this right in line with biblical principles. In James, we are told that “If anyone, then,
knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” We “ought” to do good, because it is the right
and honorable thing to do.
Jesus gave practical advice
against self-promotion. He counsels us against
choosing a position of honor at, say, a wedding feast, “for a person more
distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both
of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then,
humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.”
And the Bible refers much to
honor when it comes to our relationship with God. Jesus explained that to honor Him is to also
honor the Father: “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father,
who sent him.” And He warned against
superficial acts of honoring God, saying “‘These people honor me with their
lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
“Honor” may be one of the best ways - along with love - to
describe our motive for obedience following faith in Jesus for salvation. We are no longer motivated by the rewards of
heaven or the punishment of hell, anxiously wondering if we have done enough to
earn salvation, for salvation was won for us at the cross.
No, to be a Christian is to be on our honor, called to obey
and honor our heavenly Father not just with our lips but with our lives, called
to honor and serve others first in this life just as Jesus did for us on the
cross, and we are called as in the last days to say along with every creature
in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in
them: “To him who sits on the throne and
to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
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