Honoring takes the form of using words to express what you have seen in someone, and publicly declaring it to be true. In this way you are giving thanks to God, and loving the other person.
We are working to cultivate the different aspects of culture here at Neighborhood Church. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”, therefore continuing to shape the culture of our organization is vital to living fully into our vision for the future.
Just as we add nutrients and fertilizers to garden soil so that it will flourish, the environment for our vision to thrive needs to be enriched by these cultures we are creating.
One of the cultures of Neighborhood Church is the culture of honor.
Romans 12:10 (NIV) says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
- Honor can be seen as chivalry or being kind to an elderly person. You can explore the depths of honor as being a flavor of loving others and putting their interests before your own.
- Honor can simply be how a judge is addressed, or it can be a word describing how you appreciate and look up to someone for their character and their good deeds.
- Honor is not bound by what can be seen, but extends to highlight the secret things that God is doing by His spirit in the hidden places.
- Honor is not self-seeking, but is purely a gift of giving great weight to another in respect and admiration.
- Honor must not be confused with flattery. Flattery is defined as: excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interests.
You can also show others honor by your actions or giving gifts to recognize an accomplishment or good character. Some feel particularly loved and noticed when they are given an award, a plaque, a certificate, a trophy, or a ribbon.
Requirements for Honoring Others
- Humble yourself
- Take your eyes off yourself
- Watch and carefully observe others.
- Allow the Lord to show you the way in which he sees a person.
- Realize the truth about someone.
- Refuse to allow them to remain invisible.
- Insist on helping others see the great things you have seen.
- Use your words or actions to put those traits and deeds on display.
Proverbs 15:33 says, “Fear of the Lord teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.”
Value through honoring increases someone’s influence as their story is told.
What would it look like for you to really focus on honoring others today with a kind and true word, with a gift, or some other loving act? When we live in a culture of honor and promote that culture, people feel safe, loved, seen and valuable. That is what this broken world is looking for – and as Christians it is what we carry.
Take time this week to ask God who you made need to honor. Let’s go change the world, honoring one person at a time!
If you missed last Sunday’s message on the Culture of Honor, click here to listen to the podcast.
