HONOR

The presence of the LORD has scattered them, He will not continue to regard them; they did not honor the priests, they did not favor the elders. Lamentations 4:16

How many times have you heard the expression, "They went home after church and had roast preacher for dinner"? Solomon recorded, in the above verse, that the reason the Lord had abandoned the people was partly because they did not honor the priests, the leaders of the congregation. This verse is pretty clear as to how the Lord feels about "roast preacher". 

Honor: accept, celebrate, exalt, reverence, appreciate, value, give kudos to. 

The Bible tells us to:

           honor our father and mother (Exodus 20:12),  honor the Lord (Proverbs 3:0), 

           honor all men (1 Peter 2:17), 

           honor widows (1 Timothy 5:3), 

           to give more honor to those who seem to be less honorable (1 Corinthians 12:23), 

           give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7),

           husbands to honor wives (1 Peter 3:7),

           double honor to elders who rule well, i. e. pastors (1 Timothy 5:17), 

           honor masters i.e. employers (1 Timothy 6:1),

           honor the king i.e. government officials (1 Peter 2:17).

It doesn't look as if anyone is overlooked in this list, does it? When we dishonor others, we are dishonoring the Lord because we are disobeying to His commandments. As the above verse says, the Lord would no longer regard those who refused to honor the leaders. That's a dire consequence, one I wouldn't want to experience.

"(Honor) is the essential key to receiving from God, and for this very reason the enemy of our souls has all but eliminated the true power of honor. Honor carries with it great rewards...has the power to greatly enhance your life." Quote from Honor's Reward by John Bevere published by Faith Words. I highly recommend this book for anyone who desires to show honor to others.

When we honor another, it lifts that person to a higher level and gives them a sense of worth. In doing so we also lift ourselves up. Let's pray for the day to come when "roast preacher" won't be on the menu any more. Let's pray that all Christians will choose to honor everyone. Let honor be our motto. Let's bring honor back into the church.