Why Honor is Valuable

One of the greatest Biblical values you can learn is the value of honor. The Bible teaches much about it. In 1 Peter 2:17, Net Bible, it says, “Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.” Please understand: That wasn’t an ask by Apostle Peter, the first among Jesus’s twelve apostles. It’s a commandment of the Lord.

Yes, right here is a Biblical injunction calling believers to demonstrate honor. And it’s given by Apostle Peter who withstood the Sanhedrin when they tried to stop him from preaching the gospel. It’s the same Apostle Peter who was reputedly hung upside down on a cross because he didn’t feel worthy to die in the same manner as His Lord. Imagine that? Honor.

John the Baptist, at the height of his ministry to the Children of Israel, said of Jesus, “I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” Jn. 1:27, NLT. When Jesus asked John the Baptist to baptize Him, he said, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” Matt. 3:14, Christian Standard Bible. John the Baptist recognized the greater in Jesus.

Do you recognize others by the Spirit? Or do you look at them through your natural eyes, the eyes of flesh? The Apostle Paul called the believers in Corinth, the church he founded, to follow his example: “So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” 2 Cor. 5:16, Berean Standard Bible. By the way the verse immediately following that one is likely one you know: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17, NIV.

Yes, honor fills the pages of the Bible. Yet oftentimes, it’s one of the qualities we overlook. But why would we overlook one of the most foundational teachings in scripture? Foundational? Yes, foundational. In the Old Testament one of the most powerful statements made by God comes as He judges Eli and his house. Eli was a man of God. He was a priest and prophet who oversaw Shiloh. Yet God judged him as being unworthy of what He had given Eli. And in judging him, God said, this is the declaration of the LORD, the God of Israel: “ ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the LORD’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.’ “ 1 Sam. 2:30, Christian Standard Bible.

If you are looking to upset God, just start to dishonor Him. How do we dishonor Him? By despising what He asks us to give Him. Or by misusing it. In Eli’s case, he mistreated the offering. Listen to what God says to him and take note: “Why are you showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and why are you honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?” 1 Sam. 2:29, NASB. Yes, that’s right, getting fat on the offering displeases God. Yikes!!! Diet anyone?!

Further, and I see this also in our day, where so many believers have contempt for the offering. Yes, there are many believers who don’t tithe to their local churches, rarely support God’s men and women, regularly make unreasonable demands on those same men and women, and usually expect a great deal more than they give. It’s obscene! Yes, men and women of God should honor the offering. But if they don’t, it doesn’t give us the right to despise it. If you have despised the offering in any way, repent!

Why should you do that? “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” Exod. 20:7, NLT. Does that commandment still apply? Yes!It’s still applicable. And when and if we mistreat or despise the offering of the Lord, we are taking the Lord’s name in vain. What do I mean? I mean God values His offering and has placed His name on it. When we despise His offering, we are despising it and what He values.

Jesus corrected the Jewish leaders in this area, asking those leaders this question: “Blind fools! Which is more important — the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?” Matt. 23:17, NLT. He goes even further, asking them, “You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?” Matt. 23:19, NIV. Why did Jesus correct them in this area? Because they unwittingly despised God’s offering and Jesus corrected them. And they didn’t like it, hated Him for it, and wanted to kill Him because of it.

The offering is still a dividing issue. God still calls us to honor it. In fact, it’s one of the few times where we see judgment enter God’s house in the New Testament. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira hatched a plan to lie about their giving. They placed their own needs and name above God’s name. And in doing so, they lied to God about the offering. They held back what they should have given. And it cost them their lives. Yes, God really does take this stuff seriously.

Yes, we should have a holy reverence for God. No, believers shouldn’t despise the offering. Yes, we should give abundantly to God’s work. No, pastors and Christian leaders shouldn’t be taking too much from the offering - millions of dollars in salary? - No. We should have some common sense in these areas. Do we think God will hold us guiltless if we despise and defile His offering? Remember Eli and Ananias and Sapphira.

What I suggest is simple: Honor God! Honor God’s men and women! Honor others in authority! Honor believers! Honor everyone! And especially, “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” Prov. 3:9, NLT. “Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim. 5:17, NLT. In the King James Version, it says, they should be given double honor.

Instead of debating over what the Bible says, I think we should start doing it.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this special broadcast from the HBS (Heavenly Broadcasting System).

— Scott Wallis