Honor To Whom Honor Is Due

Honor to Whom Honor is Due

Romans 13:7

This morning I want to start by honoring all our armed service veterans. To you, veterans, we owe a lifelong debt of gratitude because you were willing to go, to serve and to give on behalf of the United States of America and on behalf of the principles that has made this nation the greatest nation on the earth! God bless you!

Someone wrote: IT IS THE VETERAN

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

VETERAN, we salute you today,

VETERANS - thank you for who you are

And the sacrifices you have given

Veterans - we honor you this day.

This morning I want to speak with you about honor and about honoring.

The title of the message this morning is "Honor to Whom Honor is Due" - and it comes directly from our text Romans in Romans 13. Please turn there in your Bibles with me if you will - Romans 13.

Romans 13:7 - Read - Pray

What does ‘honor’ really mean?

There are two insightful words for ‘honor’ in used in the New Testament.

‘timaw’ - a great price, dear, esteemed - that which is dear to the heart

‘doxazw’ - to cause the dignity or worth of a person or thing to become, recognized, valued and honored.

Opposite of honor is disgrace

Honor on achievements and even better - on character

Honor follows humility

Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility."

For What Someone Does

For Who Someone Is

Honor is never taken - it is given.

Hebrews 5:4 "And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

1. Honor Those Who Serve You

Veterans, Officers of the Law,

2. Honor Those in Authority

Parents, Bosses, Government - if you know how to honor them you know how to honor God.

Ex. 20:12 Honor your father and mother

Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master."

David with Saul - not think, do or say anything to dishonor God’s anointed.

Matthew 15:4 "For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death."

1 Timothy 6:1 "All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against."

3. Honor Those Who Love You

Friends, Family, Spouse

1 Peter 3:7 "You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

4. Honor Those Who Minister To You

1 Timothy 5:17 "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching."

5. Honor Those Who Are God’s Children

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor."

6. Honor Those Who Are Not

1 Peter 2:17 "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."

Jesus on the cross - ‘Father, forgive them’

2 Corinthians 8:21 ". . . for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

7. Honor God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit

1 Timothy 1:17 "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

How Do You Honor God

Romans 1:21 "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

a. Love God

Matthew 15:8 "This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me."

b. Love Righteousness

Righteousness make you honorable in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 21:21 "He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor."

Love what is righteous

Love what is right

Love the truth - love the truth more than anything or anybody