Song: Kingdom

Artist: Urban Rescue

Who? Them?

We’ve been chatting this week about honor.

As Pastor David challenged us last Sunday, giving honor is a natural expression of the Christian’s life. God has honored us – sinners and all – through the work of His Son, Jesus. And one result of that gracious intervention seems to be that we honor those around us. We show respect. We esteem others better than ourselves. We lay down our lives for others. We recognize the value in others. We add value to others.

Today, we discover that honor extends also to those in authority – specifically, those in positions of civil leadership, like government officials.

Consider what Paul says to Timothy:

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For,

There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

While the word ‘honor’ doesn’t expressly show up in this passage, you get the sense it’s hiding in there somewhere. Particularly that nagging little phrase: give thanks for them.

Give thanks…

It requires me to look for the good in people, to find the value in them, and then to celebrate it. It’s a close cousin to honor.

For them…

For who? Them. All people. But explicitly for kings and all who are in authority.

Pray this way – asking God to help, interceding and expressing thanks for – civil authorities.

Why?

Why do we honor those in authority? There are some intervening reasons – like the ability to live lives of peacefulness, godliness, and dignity. But the bottom line? Because God wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

I’m not called to always agree with them. I’m not called to submit unequivocally to them, irrespective of God’s precepts.

But I am called to honor them. To pray for them, to intercede for them, to give thanks for them. Why? Because God loves them. He wants to save them – and everyone under their care.

It’s a particularly relevant conversation for an election year. ‘Honor’ isn’t topping the list of words that might describe the tone of this election cycle.

So how do we honor civil authorities – even when we disagree with them? This passage gives us some help: pray, intercede, and give thanks.

It’s hard to denigrate people – or dishonor them – when you’re praying, interceding, and giving thanks for them.

That’s the challenge in front of us today. Take a moment to consider your civil leaders – current and prospective. Then, pray for them. Ask God to help them, intercede for them, and give thanks for them. Because God wants everyone to be saved.

Pastor Dave had a passage from his sermon Sunday that is a great illustration of honoring another.

Genesis 13:5-9

From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. 4 ​This was the same place where Abraham had built the altar, and there he worshiped the LORD again. 5 ​Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. 6 ​But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. 7 ​So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.) Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 ​The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

It is amazing when you really think about it. Abram is the older of the two. Abram is Lot’s uncle.

He had every right to choose which land to settle in, but to keep the peace and avoid strife, he honored Lot, and allowed him to choose where he wanted to settle.

Honoring someone puts theire needs above your own.

Honoring someone may means serving them.  Think of Jesus washing the disciples feet.

Honoring someone above yourself can bring peace to a situation, as it did with Abram and Lot.

As soon as Lot went on his merry way, God shows Abram the land that will be his and his descendants’ possession.  Abram kept the peace…and heard from the Lord for the third time.

Matthew 5:9­­–Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Proverbs 20:3–It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Strife and quarrels begin when we don’t show honor to someone, and lose sight of the fact that they are people with real feelings, hurts, etc.

When we honor someone, we are putting what they want over what we may want.

Probably like Abraham allowing Lot to choose, and then honoring the choice he made.

Strife and quarrels begin and continue to grow when we don’t show honor to others, when we prefer our way over theirs.  Think of how many “disagreements” you have had in your marriage or friendships because you wanted your way over theirs. If Abram had wanted to, he could have easily chose which land to settle in.  But he honored Lot, to avoid strife and quarrels.

Romans 12:18–Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Delight

Romans 12:10­­–Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight ​in honoring each other.

Take delight.  I take delight in watching sports; in eating good food; in hanging out with my family, among other things. It’s not always the easiest thing to take delight in honoring others above yourself.   The ESV says “outdo each other in showing honor.” Be an example. Take the lead.

What would that look like?  What would the church look life If we were trying to honor others over and above ourselves?  Even your workplace?

People would begin to feel their true worth. What a difference in a home, church, and work environment.

Honestly, we would begin to show ourselves as disciples of Christ.

John 13:35–By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Honoring others can make a difference in this world.  People aren’t used to it.

There is blessing awaiting when we are willing to honor others,

Living a life where we truly honor others eliminates the gossip, backbiting, jealousy, strife, etc. that

are so common in today’s culture.

Last time I checked, as followers of Christ we should be living more maturely than that. Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 3:1­-3, when he calls the church at Corinth infants in Christ. Why? Because there was jealousy and strife among them.

As for the question of who we should honor, 1 Peter 2:17 says

1 Peter 2:17­­–Honor everyone…

That answers that.  Everyone means everyone.  Your boss; co-worker; person who drives while texting, etc.

Why should we honor others? What reflection is honoring others have on our relationship with God?

I’m glad you asked.

1 John 4:19­21­­–We love, because He first loved us. 20 ​If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 ​And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother ​and seek the best for him.

Honoring others is honoring God. If you can’t love others, or honor others, how can you love and honor God?

Make honoring others a lifestyle that you live. The blessings will follow.

Think of ways this week you can honor someone you live with and/or work with.

Rags to Riches to Rags

Really, it’s a cliche story.

A man starts at the bottom, works his way up, and strikes it rich. Maybe it’s oil or the lottery or a business that takes off. No matter the detail, money pours in…and so do the friends.

The party begins! Money flows and everything is great. People love this guy…he is so much fun! Until the money stops, and the fun is over. With the money, so go the people.

The man is on his own, by himself, at the bottom. Even his dog leaves him. No one likes a poor, loser!

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.  -Proverbs 14:20

We all want friends. No one wants to be the poor, loser, who doesn’t even have a dog. So the question we should ask is, what does it take to be rich?

Are you rich?

I’m not talking about monetary wealth. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I mean are you rich in personality, depth of soul, and connection with God. This is true wealth. When we have this, we’ll have many friends, and they can’t be easily taken away!

Here’s a quick list of 10 things you can do to be rich in personality, depth and connection with God.

1. Read the Bible daily.
2. Pray Scripture.
3. Read 1 book a month (non-fiction).
4. Read 1 book a month (fiction).
5. Try a new meal or drink.
6. Attend a GROW group.
7. Learn a new hobby.
8. Eat lunch with a co-worker you don’t normally talk with.
9. Watch an art film.
10. Attend a spiritual conference, seminar or retreat this year.
11. BONUS – Attend a live sporting event.
12. BONUS – Visit a local civic counsel meeting.

Do something different! Grow in your walk with God and in yourself. You’ll become rich, and you won’t lack for friends (who can never be taken away).

What one thing can you begin today to be rich in personality, depth or connection with God?