Honor can be righteous or wicked, likewise its rewards. WikiImages / Pixabay
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NIV
Several decades ago, I flew home to see my parents. My father, a retired Marine, always came to pick me up at Savannah’s airport. As we waited in the baggage claim area, a tall, portly gentleman with erect carriage stood near by, barking orders to his wife. My father gently, but confidently addressed him, “You must be an Admiral.” The man stood even more erect and said “Why yes, yes I am. How did you know?” My Dad just smiled. Neither man had on a uniform, but their identities stood out. Such are the dynamics of honor.
Honor Can Be a Wonderful Thing to Have
The concept of honor changes over generations and varies from one culture to another. The word implies fear, respect, and a willingness to protect the honored one from harm. Honor also reveals our preferences, signifies status, and implies honesty and consistency. Needless to say, an honorable person can be hard to find.
That’s Heavy
According to Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, the word honor as used in Proverbs 21:21, comes from a Hebrew word that means “glorious, made heavy, weight, and promotion.” Honor can have both positive and negative meanings. In a good sense, honor translates into abundance, promotion and riches. Honor in a bad sense means a “heavy burden, to boast or grievously afflict,” (Strong’s). So, honor is a two-edged sword that bestows abundance, promotion and riches (or its opposite) upon those who have it, as well as to those to whom it is given. The Bible urges believers to seek righteousness and life in Christ, so that we can have abundance, promotion and (good) riches, instead of boasting, heavy burdens, and grievous affliction. The principle of righteous honor is exemplified by the Fifth Commandment that tells us to honor our parents:
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
We see here that honoring our parents results in being honored ourselves with long life. So in honoring, we are honored.
Honor Has an Outward Appearance
In the Bible, and in the 21st Century, honor has an outward manifestation. Military officers and celebrities show their status and achievement by the cost and decoration of their clothes and uniforms. In the Bible, clothing that showed honor was even more fabulous than today’s couture. We read about the stunning appearance of Solomon. In Exodus 28:2 we see that the garments of the high priest were fashioned to reveal the honor bestowed by God upon the one wearing them:
Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.
A Tool for Deception
Because people crave its gifts, honor is often used as bait to ensnare those who seek it at any cost. Companies and organizations can use the prestige of a job (money, fame, group favor, social status) to hide an evil agenda (remember Enron? Can anybody say “Wall Street?”). This deception is not new. 1 Samuel 15:30 shows us how King Saul, wrecked by jealousy and paranoia, begged the prophet Samuel to be seen with him in the presence of all the people, so that they would think that he had God’s blessing, when in fact, he had just committed idolatry:
Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”
Blessing or Curse
The First Commandment tells us that we must honor God above all. Honoring God is a sure protection against the evils of any age. Honoring God brings many blessings, and failure to honor Him brings the most serious curse in the universe. In 1 Samuel 2:30 God says:
“…Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.”
God’s honor bestows His weight, abundance, and riches of inner peace, joy and prosperity upon those who love Him. Those who despise God are disdained by Him, which is the worst possible curse. The choice is plain. What kind of honor have you embraced?
Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
– Your friend in Christ,
Verneda
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