Honoring Others to Honor God

Have you ever found it hard to honor someone? Maybe you felt like they didn’t deserve it, or maybe they weren’t honoring to you. It could also be the fact that in today’s society, it’s become acceptable and even laughable to dishonor others. But the Bible offers a different perspective on honor and a counter-culture way of treating people. Let’s take a look at this passage of Scripture where Jesus faced dishonor directly: 

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:1-6

In the previous chapter, Jesus performed several miracles. But in Mark 6, Jesus returns back to his hometown to teach. Nazareth is a small town; the people recognized that He was “just a carpenter” and became offended. But just because Jesus is accessible doesn’t mean He’s common. The atmosphere of dishonor limited the miracles Jesus could perform. If an atmosphere of dishonor disrupts the supernatural, what can an atmosphere of honor release? 

The Greek word “dishonor” (atimos) means to treat as common or ordinary; devalue. In contrast, the word “honor” (timê) means to place high value, highly esteem, or treat as precious or weighty. Scripture talks about honoring others 147 times. Jesus cares about how we treat what He cares about most—people. When we choose to live our lives honoring others as Jesus did, we will stand out in culture. 

So, how do we create a culture of honor in our lives and homes? Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” In other words, if you are going to “one-up” someone, do it by honoring them. Show those around you how much you value and appreciate them. And don’t just do it while they are with you—protect and honor people when they aren’t in the room. Avoiding gossip and slander will not only create a culture of honor but will earn people’s trust. When you live this way, you not only honor others, but you also honor God. 

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