Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 NIV)
Honor is one of those words we throw about sometimes. To honor someone is to treat them with great respect and high esteem. If we honor someone we may fulfill a promise or obligation to keep an agreement. Maybe we say we honor a coach or teacher or other community person for their years of effort and service for other people. Perhaps we talk about honoring – repaying – a debt. Or we mention the culture of honor that used to be a part of our military and greater society. And Exodus 20:12 (NIV) promises a blessing if we 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.” The many facets of this concept of honor were on display last week at the funeral I played, but the most memorable, for me, was the honor two particular men showed to this grieving family.
These men are pastors whose major, week-long youth conference was last week. The four nights of the conference are super high intensity, filled with worship, prayer, preaching, and the energy of several hundred youth and young adults. The conference serves as the pinnacle of the year for many of these young people, and is a venue by which God can speak to them, minister to them, and challenge them to live lives that honor him. These two men are the faces of leadership for the conference, a week of intense spiritual and practical work for each of them. Yet, on the morning of that first conference day, they drove 2 1/2 hours one way to honor their friends who had lost a mom.
Before the service started, I was quite surprised to see these two strong leaders, who had no role in the funeral service itself, standing and talking with the family. Their presence spoke volumes about their friendships with the deceased woman’s son and his wife and the rest of the family. For me, it also spoke volumes about the character and integrity – and hearts – of these men. I am sure that five hours in a car and 1 1/2 hours at a funeral was not the way either of them wanted or expected to spend time when preparing for such a major ministry event. Yet, they were there. They set aside many other things in order to be present for their friends. They honored God as they honored this woman’s life and legacy and their friends’ loss.
I pray that the concept of honor will not be lost in our society. Let us honor those who have come before us, who have made various sacrifices for us. Let us honor those who continue to serve with purpose and intentionality in the Kingdom and in the greater world. Let us be people who honor friendships and other relationships as a reflection of how we honor God.
God,
We thank you for examples of honor and for opportunities to honor various people in our lives. Help us to be people of integrity and honor, people who are after your heart and desire to act honorably in all things. Help us to love genuinely, abhor evil, and hold fast to your Goodness. Help us to love each other with brotherly affection and serve you with zeal and fervency. Help us to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer. May we, too, be examples of lives lived with honor. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. (Hebrews 13:8 ESV)
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy 1:17 ESV)