Let’s read Mark 6:1-5
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 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? 3 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 offence at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
Our topic today is Honour, its principles, and its rewards.
Your salvation and eternal life come through the work of the Cross, through your faith and repentance of sins. But the life you will have on this earth, the quality of that life, depends on how you honour God, the people in authority over your life, and how you honour the people around you.
Of course, honouring God will give you eternal rewards. But the Bible is clear:
“Honour your father and mother, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3
Honour, so that everything goes well and you will have a long life! We could also say: Dishonour, and everything will go wrong, and you will have a short life on earth.
On the text we read (Mark 6), the people from his hometown didn’t honour Jesus, and as a result, Jesus couldn’t heal them physically.
We need to distinguish the difference between Honour and Worship. Worship belongs only to God. But honouring people is recognising the value they have as those who carry God’s image.
I have seen believers in churches, serving God, and breaking the principle of Honour. Honour is a principle, so it is unconditional and non-negotiable. Every time we break this principle, we will suffer consequences here on earth.
The protocol of God’s kingdom is honour. Everything revolves around it. It can transform your life, your ministry, your calling, your marriage, your health. It brings great rewards.
Honour is a principle, so it is unconditional and non-negotiable, and cannot be broken!
Honour is more than just words or simple obedience. It is deep respect, admiration, and value that we give to someone. It is an attitude of the heart that shows in our words and actions, recognising the value and worth of each person and thing.
An environment of honour attracts and shelters the presence of God. So, when treated with respect and received with honour, you can flourish and give your best. But, when treated with disrespect, you feel pressured and you are not as productive as you have potential to be.
To create an environment of honour, we need to create rituals of honour! Do you want a practical example?
Men, open the door for your wives and daughters!
Women and men need to give respect to receive respect. So, don’t complain about the kind of treatment you’ve accepted for yourself! You don’t change what you tolerate.
Husbands should honour their wives and protect them. This is the condition for their prayers to be heard. (1 Peter 3)
Wives should give honour to their husbands through respect. (Ephesians 5:22)
To honour, we need to see people with the Father’s eyes. So, to be able to honour someone, we need to be cautious of our offences and deal with our hurt pride, because honour is an act of humility, before everything else. Think about these texts:
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NLT
““Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
I Peter 2:17 NKJV
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
Honour is a command, but be careful, we are indeed told by God to honour everyone, but we can’t seek Honour for ourselves!
It is important to understand an important point: Honour should not be sought. Rather, honour is freely given!
The Bible says that seeking honour is a sin. Whoever seeks the applause of people is just an opportunist.
“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.” Luke 14:8
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””Luke 14:11
“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests.” Luke 14:10
Honour needs to be given to whom honour is due. But be careful with your motivations, when we seek honour, we will be ashamed.
I have seen people seeking honour and as a result they destroyed themselves. I have seen people dishonouring those who they should honour, and as a result, their ministry failed, as well as their marriage, and their relationships.
A humble heart is key to both giving and receiving honour rightly.
When we have a culture of Honour, the life of resurrection of God begins to flow into lives, homes, and our church, bringing healing, restoration, blessing, joy, hope, and holiness.
So, be careful: When you stop honouring someone, you block your rewards from reaching you!
Read the text below to understand a little more about honour.
“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Matthew 10:40-42
Here Jesus talks about all levels of Honour: Whoever Honours me, whoever honours a prophet, whoever honours a righteous person, and whoever honours a little one, the least of the disciples!
Every time you give honour, you will receive the reward of honour. Every time you seek honour, you lose its reward.
Whoever doesn’t honour Jesus doesn’t honour the Father who sent him. Whoever receives the prophet, receives the prophet’s reward. Honouring God’s messengers is honouring God himself.
Let’s see now some biblical stories related to honour. By analysing them, we will better understand what are the rewards that God gives us for following his command about honour.
1- Jesus and the Centurion: Faith and honour are the foundations of miracles!
In Matthew 8, we can find the story of the centurion who believed that a simple word from Jesus could heal his servant, who was miles away from where the soldier found the Messiah. Recognising Christ as his superior in a way that many Jews didn’t, drew a “wow” from Jesus! The measure of that man’s faith was the instrument by which Jesus performed the miracle.
The same happened with the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7), who humbled herself at Jesus’ feet and earned the reward of her daughter’s freedom. Faith and honour are the foundations of miracles! Jesus couldn’t perform miracles in Nazareth, his own town (Mark 6) because: Faith doesn’t work where there’s lack of honour!
2- The woman and the alabaster jar: acts of honour multiply blessings!
In the four Gospels, we see the story of the woman who poured at Jesus’ feet an alabaster jar that was worth a year’s salary of a common worker. She was criticised by men like Judas, who argued that that act was nothing more than a waste and that that such valuable goods should be used for the poor.
However, Jesus answered those present that that was an act of honour that would never be forgotten, and that it would be told throughout the world, wherever the gospel reached. We learn from her that pouring out this expensive possession at Christ’s feet will never be an act of waste because it will be rewarded as honour.
Stories such as the woman with the alabaster jar prove that these actions can define our life forever and multiply blessings!
3- Hannah and Eli: respecting our priests gives us the blessings we cry for
In I Samuel 9:1-18, we see Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, pouring out her spirit at the altar and being misinterpreted by Eli, the priest in charge of the temple. Instead of answering Eli disrespectfully, Hannah chose to share with him her cry and submitted to the priestly position of that man.
Her reward came a little later: Hannah conceived the son – Samuel – for whom she cried so much. Her position of honour and respect opened the way for her blessing to arrive.
4 – Honouring parents gives us long and prosperous life:
Honour brings the reward of a long and blessed life: “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land and that all may go well with you” (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16 Ephesians 6:2). This was the first commandment with a promise and it should tale the first place as we adopt rituals of honour: our own home. We also see in the Bible the consequence that one of Noah’s sons suffered for dishonouring his father.
5 – Tithes and offerings: honouring this principle guarantees abundance.
In Malachi 3, the Lord instructs us to return tithes and make offerings. We see in the text that adopting this behaviour of honour guarantees us “so many blessings that we won’t even have where to keep them”. In addition, the devourer is rebuked in our lives and is not allowed to touch our property.
The end of the chapter shows that God makes a difference between those who serve him and those who do not. The reward of honour in tithes and offerings is to live an abundant and different life!
The consequences of dishonour
The opposite of honour is contempt, which is the feeling that someone is unworthy of consideration or respect. How do you treat your neighbour? According to what you think he deserves or according to how God sees him?
1- David and Michal: dishonour generates infertility
In II Samuel 6, we see David returning from the war and entering his city in the middle of a great celebration. His extravagant worship negatively caught the attention of his wife Michal who, instead of rejoicing with him, preferred to scold him.
As a consequence of her dishonourable act, Michal was made infertile and could never give birth to King David’s children. A piece of advice: Don’t believe in constructive criticism from someone who hasn’t built anything. By the way, whoever criticises should do better.
2- The moral failure of a leader is the honour test of his leaders.
In Genesis 9 we find a Noah given to drink, in a shameful and embarrassing position. A great leader who failed morally. Such acts were witnessed by his three sons, but something interesting happened: two of Noah’s sons remained honouring him, covering the shame of the Father and not disobeying him. However, Ham chose to point out his father’s mistake and despised him. The effect of his dishonour was reflected in his inheritance and brought consequences of servitude for all his generations.
3- Reuben: dishonour steals the blessings that are natural to us.
In Genesis 35 and in I Chronicles 5, Reuben, the eldest son of Israel, lost the right of firstborn because of his dishonour: he defiled his father’s bed and lay with one of his concubines. Dishonour prevents the blessings reserved for us from reaching us.
Conclusion
We stated at the beginning that the protocol of the Kingdom of God is honour. This means that, to bring the standard of Heaven to Earth, we need ALL our relationships to be filled with honour!
Finally, we must honour one another because we were made in the image and likeness of God.
May our view of the other be like the Lord’s: seeking the best in each one, with a vision focused on the complete purpose, in which we will all be perfected according to the transforming power of the Father!
Honour is a powerful factor for us to receive what Heaven is pouring out on our generation!
May God bless you and help you walk by the principle of Honour, which is a path of Integrity!