We have been searching for ways that we can become better ambassadors for Jesus. Two weeks ago, we discussed patience.
Last week we discussed integrity.
We discovered the Greek word for integrity had five definite traits. Integrity meant to be true. Our words should hold true. Our yes should mean yes and our no should mean no. People should know that we are true to our word.
Integrity meant to be genuine. We are to have a genuine sense of compassion to those around us who are less fortunate. We are to lend a helping hand to the downtrodden.
Integrity meant to be trustworthy. We are to prove ourselves worthy of someone’s trust. We are not to gossip or share confidential secrets with others. We are to be a person that someone can turn too for advice or comfort with no fear of being exposed.
Integrity meant to be reliable. We are to be a person who brings a reliable message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to prove it to be reliable based on how we live our lives.
Integrity meant to be valid. We cannot validate our own integrity. Those around us validate it. Those who witness our lives determine as to whether we are true, genuine, trustworthy, reliable people.
This week we will discover another trait of a good ambassador, honor.
Pastor Craig Groschel shared some tips a friend gave him when he was preparing to visit Korea. “When you’re meeting someone for the first time, it’s proper to bow, but just a little. Don’t make a big, deep bow; just tilt yourself so that your head is slightly lower that the other person’s head. This conveys respect. And when you shake hands, use your free hand to grab your elbow or your forearm as you shake. This gesture is considered very polite, so it’s a pretty easy way to show honor.”
“It’s also honoring to bring gifts. And when you offer your gift, you extend it with both hands, and the person receiving it accepts it with both hands.”
“In Korea, as in most places in the world, you have to be careful not to show the soles of your shoes. You must never rest your feet upon a desk or table. This is considered extremely rude.”
When the pastor asked his friend what advice he would give someone coming to the US he replied, “I wouldn’t tell them anything. Those things don’t really matter here.”
Our culture, for the most part, does not show honor as other nations do. Young people in other nations honor the wisdom of their elders. There is a sense of honor for their leaders and their governments. Maybe we don’t really understand what “honor” means.
The Greek word for honor is time (tee-MAY). It meant “to value, to respect, or to highly esteem.” It was usually associated with a way to assign value.
When my grandson Peyton was a baby, he had to wear a helmet to help his skull form a bit more. His parents were not very concerned about the every day wear and tear of the helmet. One day his grandmother painted the helmet to be a copy of the Carolina’s Panthers helmet. My son took him to the training camp for the Panthers and several players were more than pleased to sign it. (In fact, Steve Smith had his picture taken with him). Suddenly the helmet was assigned great value. More care was given to protect it from daily use. And as soon as it usefulness for my grandson was complete, it was placed in a place of honor due to its value.
The Bible tells us that there are people and things that we are to give a place of honor because of their great value. Today we will look at these valuable items and learn how we can be a people that shows honor where honor is due.
Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
We are to honor our parents. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on our parents. Often as a child, we think our parents are being harsh and unreasonable until God does a wondrous work and makes that child a parent. There was an old curse that would be placed on each generation of the children in the Turner household. “I hope one day you grow up and have a child just like you.” It is a rather good curse.
Reality is that we feel some parents don’t deserve honor. Some parents have been abusive or neglectful and it affects our lives and spiritual well-being. That does not change the fact that God commanded that we honor our parents.
So how can we honor an abusive parent? Here are some practical tips: if you have distance yourself from them, call your parent and listen. Remain quiet rather than defend yourself when hurtful things are said. Let go of expectations that your parent will ever be the parent you want him or her to be; accept them for who they are. Cultivate an attitude of compassion for the things your parent did right and express gratitude for even slight efforts to show love. Refrain from making disparaging remarks about your parent to other family members.
Psalm 8:4-5 “what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.”
We are to honor each other. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on humanity. The word tells us here that people have been crowned with great honor. Not just the rich people, not just the intelligent people, not just the talented people, but all mortals, all human beings.
The Jewish word for honor meant “related to the appearance of an object that is beautiful and instills awe.” When God looks at me, my beauty awes him. When God looks at you, your beauty awes him. When God looks at that homeless person, his beauty awes him. When God looks at that person with a sinful lifestyle, their beauty awes him.
Do you know what you do with something that is beautiful and instills awe? You protect it as my son did the helmet. Some things you may even lay your life down for it. Do you know why Jesus died for me, you, that homeless person and that sinner? Because He was awed by our beauty. And He wanted to protect us from the thief. And He died doing so.
Romans 13:7 “Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”
We are to honor those in authority. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on those in authority. The concept was to give those in authority over us special treatment. This is a difficult concept for us.
We live in a land on individuality. We do not want anyone telling us what to do or making demands of us. But God commands us to treat our bosses and governmental officials with the honor that their position holds. We are to be respectful in our relationship with them, realizing that no one holds a position of authority that God has not placed them there.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.”
We are to honor our church leaders. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on their hard work and spiritual guidance. I can honestly say that I am not a victim of being dishonored here. You have truly shown me nothing but honor.
But I must confess in the past that I have been a participant in bringing dishonor to a church leader. I was not willing to recognize his hard work or accept his spiritual guidance. Only now, after I have become a pastor, can I truly recognize the hard work and wisdom that this man had.
My disobedience to follow this principal of honoring a church leader cost me. And the Lord in his mercy forgave me and raised me up again. I now respect those that are over me, my supervisors and leaders and I bring them honor by doing so.
Hebrews 13:4 “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”
We are to honor the institution of marriage. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on marriage. Not just our marriage but also all marriages. We are not to behave in any such manner that would bring dishonor to another person’s marriage. We must be careful that our actions or words not lead to the termination of someone’s marriage.
If we are married, we must remain faithful to one another so that honor will be shown to the institution of marriage. God does not take it lightly when a sacred institution that He established is dishonored and we have the promise of judgment.
1 Peter 3:7 “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”
Men, we are to honor our wives. We are to recognize the great value that God has placed on our wives. We are to treat them with understanding.
“A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer when all of a sudden he said aloud, "Lord grant me one wish". The sky clouded and a booming voice said, "Because you have tried to be faithful I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want to."
The Lord answered, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the logistics of that kind of undertaking; the supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific; the concrete and steel it would take. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time to think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me".
The man thought for a long time and finally said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know what she feels inside, what she is thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says ’nothing’ to my question of ‘what’s wrong’ , and how I can make her truly happy?"
After a few minutes God said, "How many lanes do you want on that bridge?"
Ladies, honestly, there are times when we really don’t understand. But God has told us to treat you with special treatment.
If we do not than the Word says, our prayers may be hindered.
Also, fellows, stay away from the weaker than you part. When this was written, women had very few rights. In most cases, women today seem to be able to handle situations better than we can.
1 Corinthians 6:20 “for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
We are to honor God. We are to recognize the great value that God places upon himself. God is valuable and He realizes it. He says of himself, “You will have no other God’s above me because I am a jealous God.” He is the creator of everything. He is in control of everything around us. He decides who will receive compassion and mercy. He gave you the health that you enjoy. He paid a high price so that you can honor him by service and righteous living. To lack in service for his church or to live a corrupt lifestyle brings dishonor to him.
And God deserves double honor. Here is another way we honor him. Some of you want to tuck your toes now.
Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.”
The Barna Research group in a recent study discovered that only four percent of Christians tithe, which is giving a ten percent of your income. The average Christian gives 2.56% of their income. A staggering 25% give nothing at all.
Now take into consideration that the average tip given to a server at a restaurant is 16%. We have apps on our phones to assist us in tallying what the proper amount of the tip should be. We even debate the issue of tipping. Almost everyone feels obligated to leave a tip. In a survey done by Deal News, 56% of those surveyed tipped in spite of lousy service. The reason given; so that the person tipping would not be looked upon in a negative manner.
We worry about what a person who brought us food and filled our glasses thinks of us while we give very little consideration to the one, as Jesus himself said, “who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell.” (Luke 12:5)
Remember at the beginning of the message we said a gift was given in Korea as a sign of honoring someone. That is what a tip does. It honors the one who served you. Ask yourself this question; has God ever served you? Has God ever answered a prayer request or provided a miracle? Even 56% felt that bad service at least deserved something. What about God?
Paul wrote “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). You may decide not to give ten percent. Perhaps you are not willing to give 2.56%. But give to God, not out of sorrow or guilt; not under distress, but rather give with a gracious attitude.
1 Peter 5:6 “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
We are to honor ourselves. We are to recognize the great value that God places on each of us. God has an order to everything He does. When we begin to honor those things required of us; parents, humanity, authorities, church leaders, marriage, wives, and God, He will begin to exalt us in the heavens. God will brag about us to the enemy. He will rejoice over us in joyful songs (Zephaniah 3:17) and with songs of victory (Psalm 32:7). We have an appointed season for these things in our life. Let’s not hinder our appointed season but rather live with expectations of its arrival. Let’s show honor where honor is due.
