Word of the Week: Honor

Anna Marie Jarvis was 12 years old when she got the inspiration for a special day celebrating mothers.

Her mother was teaching a Bible class on “Mothers of the Bible.”  At the end of class, Mrs. Jarvis said, “I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.” 

At her mother’s grave side service in 1905, Anna recalled those words and determined to honor her mother and said, “by the grace of God, you shall have Mother’s Day.”

In 1907 she began an aggressive campaign to establish a national “Mother’s Day.”  In 1908 was the first “Mother’s Day celebration in the city of Philadelphia.  Mrs. Jarvis was a fluent speaker and eloquently promoted her cause, using every platform at her disposal.

After enlisting the support of philanthropist, John Wanamaker, her campaign began to gain greater support.  By 1909, 45 states observed Mother’s Day.   Then in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday of May.

Our word of the week is “honor.’

The word honor means “to fix a value upon.  To revere.  To venerate.  To esteem.”  The word speaks to the concept of worth or excellence.

The Bible commands children to  “Honor your father and mother’ (Eph 6:2).  Honor goes beyond a single day of celebration.   A cute card.  A box of chocolates.  Or a buffet meal. It speaks to an attitude of respect and appreciation for the work, role and personhood of those who sacrifice so much to give us life and show us love.

The Bible uses the English word “honor” 144 times.  In a variety of ways.  Consider some other relationships in which we are to demonstrate honor.

(1) Brethren in God’s church should be treat one another with honor.  

Rom 12:10

 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another

(2) Those in positions of governmental authority should be accorded honor.

Rom 13:7

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 

1 Peter 2:17

Honor the king. 

(3) Shepherds in God’s church deserve our honor.

1 Tim 5:17

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

(4) Husbands are commanded to show honor to their wives.

1 Peter 3:7

 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 

These passages remind me that people are important to God.  And they should be important to me.  People have worth. Value. Dignity. They are created in God’s image and after his likeness.  In fact, the apostle Peter commands, “Honor all people” (1 Pet 2:7).  In other words, show respect to others.   Express appreciation.  Convey kindness.  No matter the social or economic status one has, he or she deserves our deference as a fellow human being with an eternal soul.

And of course the greatest honor is reserved for God, the Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. In the great throne scene in Revelation 4 the 24 elders fall down before Jehovah’s throne and proclaim:

You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

And then the Son of God enter the scene in chapter 5 and the heavenly host exclaim:

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Today and this week, think about the importance of honor.  Not what honor is due you. But who can you honor?  And how can you honor them?

 

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman