The Power of Honor

It’s been said that when we honor someone else, our hearts swing open to our receiving the particular graces that God has given to them. And when we dishonor someone, either by ignoring them, or not properly crediting them for meritorious things they have done, or by simple criticism or lack of trust, something closes in our hearts which cuts us off from receiving the good that they do have.

Honor for others has a way of blessing us!

Perhaps this is why Paul exhorts the Roman Christians (12:10) to “honor one another above yourselves.” If honoring one another gets flowing in a church, a home, or a business, then everyone in that micro-community has made themselves open to receiving the unique graces God has placed in all the others.  

Think of that! Think of how quickly a community can be uplifted by practicing this simple virtue! If I honor the Lord’s gifts in you, then I become open to receiving them into myself. Honor is the virtue that keeps the supply chain of grace moving!

The one great enemy to honoring others is our own voracious hunger for significance. We have no idea how deep this hunger lives in us. It very well could be the deepest drive in all of us. Why? Because before the Fall, we were co-leaders with God to steward all creation. When Adam sinned, we lost our royal status and became slaves. In our hearts we have had a hunger for significance ever since. We long for that lost royal status.

This hunger causes us to promote ourselves or position ourselves to receive glory for ourselves. Remember the teachers of the law who loved to walk around in flowing robes and to have the most important seats in the synagogue “or the places of honor at banquets”? (Luke 20:46)

Our hunger for significance sometimes steals glory and honor from God.  When we take credit for what God has done, we dishonor God and shut ourselves off from receiving all that God has for us. We forget that honor is a “debt” we must pay! (See Romans 13:7)

The good news is that the opposite is true! What was written on the note that an American Olympic sprinter in the film Chariots of Fire gave to Eric Liddell right before his race?

“He who honors me, him I will honor.” (1 Samuel 2:30)