1. One of the right things that we do in this country is give honor to people who deserve to be honored – First Responders; Graduates; Selfless Servants; Monuments of Honor; Avenue of the Righteous outside the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem – Today, Veterans (Veterans Day)
2. 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.
3. In Hebrew, the word for honor means to weigh down (with respect and esteem); the opposite is to treat lightly. Honor is bigger than Fame.
4. While we honor our veterans, we remember that the Bible expands on Honor – Romans 13.1-7
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
I. To Honor is to Show Respect
A. To the Aged – Proverbs 16.31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
1. Cast away by society today
2. There was a time in our history when children ate last
B. Authorities
1. Civil – 1 Peter 2.17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
a. Unpleasant situations – Rome/Babylon – Jeremiah 29.7 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
b. US – Unique form of government
2. Religious – Elders – 1 Timothy 5.17 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
3. How? Romans 13.8-10 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
II. To Honor is to Show Support Exodus 20.12; Ephesians 6.1-3 (first command with promise)
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
I like the story of the 3rd Grade Sunday School teacher who was trying to drive home the importance of family life. She illustrated her point by referring to the commandment “honor your mother and father.” Then she added, “Now that commandment about honoring our mother and father deals with how we are to treat our parents---can any of you tell me a commandment that deals with how we are to treat brothers and sisters?” There was a long pause and then one boy’s face lit up as he said, “I know! You shall not kill!”
A. Respect and Obey Parents – Ephesians 6.1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
A teenager once wrote this letter to Ann Landers:
“I am a 15 year old and my biggest problem is my mother. All she does is nag, nag, nag. From morning till night, it is, turn off the TV. Do your homework. Wash behind your neck. Stand up straight. Go clean your room. How can I get her off my case?” (Signed) Pick, Pick, Pick.
Ann’s Response:
“Dear Picky: Turn off the TV. Do your homework. Wash behind your neck. Stand up straight. Go clean up your room.”
B. Even Further – Support in Need
1. Parents care for babies and one day babies care for parents
2. “Be kind to your kids, they will choose your nursing home.”
3. Even the Funeral is a symbol of honoring parents
4. BTW, those who are “Caregivers” are showing honor in your care
C. Demands Honorable Parents – Deuteronomy 6.4-9
A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72 percent of their children remain faithful in attendance. If only Dad attends regularly, 55 percent remain faithful. If only Mom attends regularly, 15 percent remain faithful. If neither attend regularly, only 6 percent remain faithful. -- Warren Mueller, Leadership, Vol. 2, no. 3.
III. To Honor is to Show Adoration the LORD – 1 Timothy 1.17 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
A. All Honor Leads Us to Honor the LORD because He is Worthy – Psalm 29.2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
B. All Honor Leads Us to Honor the LORD – How?
1. Conduct – Romans 12.1-2 (living sacrifices)
2. Faith – all the heroes of the bible honored God by taking Him at His word; seeing the unseen/invisible
3. Humility – Isaiah 66.2b But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
4. Submission – choosing to obey and follow God
5. Giving back to Him what He has already given – Proverbs 3.9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
• Wealth
• Mercy
• Kindness
• Truth
• Love
1. The list goes on and on: Honor to whom honor is due.
2. Ultimate honor belongs to the LORD and is given by our lives to Him
