The Need for Respect & Honor

by:  M. Allen  (based on an article in The Preceptor 10/96  By Mark Mayberry)

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96061

11/10/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.     Introduction.

A.   Several weeks ago there were some civil disturbances in St. Petersburg, FL. Homes & businesses were burned, looted & some were completely destroyed.  Several people were injured & millions of $$ of damage occurred.  All because a white police officer shot a black man during a robbery attempt.

B.   Generations of people are growing up not respecting their parents, the government, God, and a host of other things.  How sad it is to see this trend spreading across this country!  We live in a day when:

1.    children sue parents because they chose to discipline them.

2.    adults kill unborn children because it was “inconvenient” to have a child at the time.

3.    a nation which is turning it’s focus away from God.  People who decry anything that has to do with God & Christianity.  I’m afraid the majority of people in our land no longer have any respect for God & His commandments!  How sad!

C.   It is important for Christians to have the proper respect for certain people in their lives.  How can we expect others to have respect when we don’t?

1.    Sad but true that men often show a lack of respect toward one another.

a.     Isa. 3:5 - talked about the sad condition of the Israelites.

2.    Also, men on the whole, have shown great disrespect for God just as the Israelites did in their worship to Him.  The Book of Malachi reveals their lack of honor & respect in Mal. 1:6-8.

D.   The Greek word for honor is tiamo.  Strong defines it as:  “to prize, i.e., fix a valuation upon, by implication to revere.’ 

1.    Thayer defines it as:  1)  to estimate, to fix the value of something belonging to oneself 2) to honor, to have in honor, to revere, to venerate.

2.    instead of honoring things that are wholesome, good, and godly, the majority of people have come to honor that which is bad or evil.

a.     sin is glorified.

b.    immoral behavior is allowed under the term “tolerance.”

3.    What persons or groups are we to honor & respect?

 

II.   Whom Are We To Honor & Respect?

A.   Our Parents.

1.    Both the old & new covenants command children to honor their parents.  Maybe it would be good if we spent some time reading what the Bible says.

a.     Ex. 20:12 - why do you think the phrase “that your days may be long” was used?

1.    Had they disobeyed their parents, took out & stoned. - Deut. 21:18-21

2.    had they gone contrary to God’s will & parents, they would have lost the land.

b.    Eph. 6:1-3 - for this is right.

1.    This is the right thing to do.  It seems many today not set on doing the right thing.

2.    Back to OT example of unruly children.  Lies in stark contrast to that of today!

a.     psychologists tell us that discipline “scars” a child.  Corporal punishment in schools discarded as an “ignorance” of the past.

b.    children sue parents for administering punishment.

c.     parents have to sign forms in schools allowing corporal punishment.

d.    imagine living under the law found in Ex. 21:17…  Lev. 20:9 says their blood will be upon them!

e.     from these passages, it is clear that God meant for children to honor and obey their parents.

1.    The wisdom of God’s plan is evident.  The experience & wisdom of parents is intended to be put into guiding & molding children to “do right.”

2.    yet many have no respect for parents whatsoever.  Writer of proverbs wrote in 20:20 & 30:17…

3.    We should realize the value of our parents & respect them for who they are.  Remember this principle is a command.  It should be natural for us to do so.

B.   The Government & It’s Leaders.

1.    Bill Clinton.  Many either love him or hate him.  With most people there is no middle ground.  With many because they dislike the human who holds the office they totally dishonor & degradate the entire governmental system.

a.     think they are justified because the human who holds the office is immoral.

2.    Was this the attitude of the apostles in the 1st century?

a.     in the book of Romans, the apostle Paul orders Christians to submit to governmental authority, obey the laws of the land, pay taxes, and display a spirit of respect & honor toward civil rulers.

b.    Rom. 13:1-7

c.     Peter specifically commanded that we “honor the king”.

1.    1 Pet. 2:13-17

2.    Peter wrote that children of God must submit to every authority instituted among men.

3.    What really speaks out here is :  the apostles writing through inspiration of the holy spirit, expected NT Christians to honor such men as Caliguia, Claduis, & Nero.

a.     men who treated Christians worse than anything.

1.    burned, killed, persecuted Christians.

b.    if they were to honor men such as these, why shouldn’t we honor our present leaders?

1.    even if they lack character & integrity.

4.  We need to learn to value our civil leaders, not have a spirit of lawlessness or scorn toward those who are in positions of authority.

C.   Our Employer.

1.    When I worked for Wal*Mart, the store manager was put down more than anyone else ever thought about being.  Made fun of him:  called Him names….

2.    many feel that it is their God Given right to criticize the boss.

a.     contrary to what God wants us to do.

1.    expects us to honor employer.

2.    workers must be obedient!  Service must be sincere!

b.    Eph. 6:5-8 - dealing with servants/masters, but can be applied to bosses & employers.

3.    This principle is true of Christianity - this is what is expected of us.

a.     God expects all men to honor & respect those who demand authority above them!

b.    in 1 Tim. 6:1 those who were trapped under the yoke of slavery were told to respect their masters.

1.    be counted of all honor - how hard this would have been for those who were being persecuted!

4.  We should be submissive to our employers and do the job that is expected of us.

a.     back talk & disloyalty are not the proper example of a Christian.

b.    Tit. 2:9-10

c.     need to cast off the spirit of criticism and fault finding in the workplace.

D.   Our spouse.

1.    Presently, over half of the marriages in this country end up in divorce.

a.     indeed, marriage is a troubled institution in the 90’s.

b.    psychologist & m. counselors are making money hand over fist!

1.    there is one simple solution to 90% or more marriages that end in divorce.

2.    Each party needs to show love, honor & respect to the other.  In just about every case of divorce, one spouse did not honor & respect the other one.

3.    root of 99% of all problems in marriage!

2.  Love goes beyond the “touchy-feely” sensation.  It is a way of acting whereby we seek one anothers higher good.

3.  But is this as far as the Bible goes?  Does not the Bible take it one step further?

a.     wife:  respect husband - Eph. 5:33

b.    husband:  honor wife - 1 Pet. 3:7

4.    It is clear God wants each one of us to value our spouse.  To be thankful we have been blessed to have a spouse.

a.     instead of valuing their wives, many men put their wives down, make them the butt of jokes, never compliment them on their beauty, or the good things they do for them.

b.    instead of valuing their husbands, many wives never show appreciation for the work that the husband does supporting the family.

c.     many couples demean each other - even in public.

d.    this is not showing proper honor & respect towards one’s spouse.

E.    The Church.

1.    We should respect the church of our Lord.

a.     Eph. 3:10-11

b.    the church reveals God’s eternal purpose & wisdom.

2.    There are a variety of ways in which we need to have respect in the church.

a.     respect & honor for the head of the church - Christ.

1.    sometimes hard to do, because Jesus not here physically.

2.    Bible is physical.  Tells us that Christ is the head of the church.  Eph. 1:22-23. 

a.     what do we find in many cases today?  Man has polluted the organization of the church.

b.    respect the Bible as the word of God.

1.    in an effort to justify unscriptural practices, many have claimed that the scriptures are just the opinions of man.

a.     do this to justify a number of things.  E.g., homosexuality, institutionalism, all kinds of error.

2.    Peter said in 2 Pet. 1:16-21

a.     we read in 1 Thess. 2:13-14…

b.    need to follow the Bible only and do what it says and only what it says.

c.     when we do this we will have a proper respect for the Bible.

c.  respect one another in the church.

1.    1 Pet. 2:5 identifies us as living stones.  We need to have respect for other members of the church!

2.    there are a number of growing problems in the church.  1 of them is spiritual cannibalism.

a.     if one bor. Disagree with another - instead of trying to work it out - fight & try to devour one another.

b.    try to get as many on their side as possible.

c.     label the opposing side with the suffix ist or ite.

3.    What did Paul write in Rom. 12:10?

a.     not talking about condoning error here. But certain issues between brethren could already have been put away if it weren’t for the “He said, you said” arguments.

4.    Christians are to appreciate the important contribution that our fellow brothers and sisters give to the church.

5.    Are you respecting the church as you should?

F.    The Lord.

1.    We must honor God!

a.     the creator of heaven & earth is filled with honor & majesty.

b.    must give the Lord the honor and glory that is due His name!

c.     Read. Psa. 96:1-9.

2.    How do we honor God?

a.     FO  All, by doing what He says!

b.    are you honoring God and respecting Him by obeying His commandments?

1.    By living a life of sin, by never becoming a child of God, you are not honoring Him, you are in essence slapping God in the  face!

       3.  What has happened to those who have not honored God?

a.     in the OT, Pharaoh hardened his heart against God.  He turned his attention away from God & was destroyed.

1.    Ex. 14:5-10;21-28

b.    Korah, Dathan, & Abiram - wanted to take glory for themselves.

1.    Earth swallowed them up in Num. 16:31-33.

c.     Uzziah in 2 Chron. 26:16-23

4.    All those gave honor to themselves instead of God & met certain destruction.

a.     do you realize if you are not giving God the honor & respect that is due him you are honoring yourself & headed for eternal destruction?

5.    Once again, we must honor God!

a.     1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15-16

b.    we should learn to value our God and not fall into the trap of sinful rebellion & disobedience which has been the downfall of many others.

III. Conclusion.

A.   God will honor us if we will honor Him! 

1.    What was true for the Israelites is true for us today!

2.    Deut. 26:18-19

B.   As we have already seen,  God will receive the honor due him sometime.

1.    We choose to voluntarily honor Him now here on earth for salvation - or will recognize the glory & honor due him when it is too late - eternity in hell!

a.     sometime He will get the respect & honor due Him!

b.    Rom. 10:10-12

c.     Phil. 2:9-12

C.   Have you given the honor & respect to God that is due Him?  If not Why Not?

1.    IF you are already a Christian, are you honoring the other things that we have talked about today?  You need to.

2.    Please think on these things.!

D.  If you are not living right, you are not giving God the respect that is due Him!  Why not make corrections today?