To honor is to give respect to whom it is due. This is generally easier to do when love and affection are also present. But sometimes we’re called to honor even without the benefit of natural affection per se.
For instance, children are commanded to honor their father and mother. This might be expressed in the form of obedience when they are young and still in their parents’ house. But this is a command that would seem to carry into our adulthood as well, though expressed very differently.
To honor our parents as adults is not to suggest they were perfect or that we had a magical childhood. In fact, as imperfect humans, they likely wounded us in many ways. And sometimes these wounds have strained our relationship with each other. But the call to honor remains.
This might mean we respect their title as father and mother, offer them due reverence when speaking about them, and seek to tell their story from God’s perspective and not merely our own limited point of view.
In a similar way, this is how we might honor business and social leaders as well. We don’t have to agree with their decisions or even like them personally to extend them the respect due their position.
Whatever it looks like, to honor doesn’t require us to sugarcoat reality or to be otherwise dishonest in our opinions. But we might rightly filter our opinions to the occasion and need. A time to honor is not a time to air our grievances; it’s a time to respect the various authorities and positions God has placed in our life.
In the end, give honor to whomever it’s due. This is less about their personal worthiness and more about simply respecting God’s relational order.
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexel
