Embracing a Culture of Honor in Our Lives
Summary
Honor is a concept that is sorely lacking in today's world. It involves recognizing the value and worth of others, treating them with respect, and esteeming them highly. To honor someone is to acknowledge their significance in our lives, while dishonor reduces them to mere ordinariness. Romans 12:9-10 calls us to genuine love and to outdo one another in showing honor. This is a challenge to rise above the self-centeredness prevalent in society and to live a life that esteems others.
In a world where self-promotion is rampant, many feel the need to "toot their own horn" to prove their worth. However, as believers, we are called to honor others, lifting them up so they don't feel the need to elevate themselves. Honor builds up, while dishonor tears down. Our words should leave others feeling valued and encouraged, not diminished. This culture of honor should begin within our church family, where we recognize the inherent value that Jesus places on each of us.
True honor is not transactional. It is not about giving to receive something in return. Honor is about motives. If our actions are driven by ulterior motives, they lack true honor. We must examine our hearts and ask ourselves why we do what we do. Honor is about the heart, and when our hearts are aligned with God's love, our actions will naturally reflect that.
The story of Mary, Martha, and Judas in John 12 illustrates different approaches to honor. Mary honored Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive perfume, an act of pure love and devotion. Martha was busy serving, but her motives were questioned. Judas criticized Mary's act, not out of concern for the poor, but because of his own selfish motives. This story challenges us to examine our own motives and to honor others sincerely.
We must not wait until it's too late to honor those around us. Honor should be expressed while people are still alive to appreciate it. We should not wait for funerals to express our love and appreciation. Let us be like Mary, who honored Jesus while He was still with her, and let us strive to create a culture of honor that reflects the love of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Honor is about recognizing the value and worth of others, treating them with respect, and esteeming them highly. It is a call to rise above self-centeredness and to live a life that esteems others. [00:33]
- True honor is not transactional. It is not about giving to receive something in return. Honor is about motives, and when our hearts are aligned with God's love, our actions will naturally reflect that. [06:09]
- The story of Mary, Martha, and Judas in John 12 illustrates different approaches to honor. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet was an act of pure love and devotion, while Judas' criticism revealed his selfish motives. [21:46]
- We must not wait until it's too late to honor those around us. Honor should be expressed while people are still alive to appreciate it. Let us strive to create a culture of honor that reflects the love of Christ. [27:24]
- Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where we find peace, hope, and freedom. It is a place where we can lay down our worries and find the answers we seek. Let us prioritize spending time with Jesus and let His love overflow into our actions. [34:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Understanding Honor
[01:31] - The Problem of Self-Promotion
[03:09] - Building a Culture of Honor
[04:14] - Honor Without Expectation
[05:18] - The Importance of Motives
[06:57] - The Honor Test
[07:45] - The Devil in the Details
[09:04] - False Honor and Expectations
[10:08] - The Trap of Transactional Love
[13:00] - Developing a Culture of Honor
[16:49] - The Story of Lazarus
[17:58] - Jesus' Divine Miracle
[18:49] - Martha, Mary, and Judas
[21:46] - Motives Matter
[23:23] - The Cost of True Honor
[27:24] - Honoring Before It's Too Late
[29:13] - Jesus' Response to Judas
[31:03] - The Urgency of Honor
[32:25] - Sitting at Jesus' Feet
[34:40] - Finding Peace in Jesus
[35:42] - Invitation to Know Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Culture of Honor
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:9-10
- John 12:1-8
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 12:9-10, what are believers encouraged to do in terms of love and honor? How does this relate to the concept of genuine love? [00:33]
2. In the story of Mary, Martha, and Judas from John 12, what were the different actions taken by each character, and how did these actions reflect their motives? [21:46]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between honor and dishonor in terms of their impact on others? [03:09]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of motives when it comes to honoring others? [06:09]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the act of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume? What does this say about her understanding of honor? [21:46]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the societal tendency towards self-promotion, and how does this contrast with the biblical call to honor others? [01:31]
3. How does the sermon use the example of Judas to illustrate the dangers of false honor and ulterior motives? [22:45]
4. In what ways does the sermon challenge the listener to examine their own motives for honoring others? [06:57]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you either honored or dishonored someone. What was your motive, and how might you approach it differently in the future? [06:09]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of honoring others while they are still alive. Who in your life needs to hear words of honor from you today, and how will you express it? [27:24]
3. Consider the culture of honor within your church or community. What practical steps can you take to contribute to building this culture? [13:31]
4. How can you ensure that your acts of service and love are motivated by genuine honor rather than a desire for reciprocation? [09:04]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus to find peace and direction. What specific changes can you make in your daily routine to prioritize this time with Jesus? [34:40]
6. Think about a time when you felt the need to "toot your own horn." How can you shift your focus to honoring others instead, and what impact might this have on your relationships? [01:31]
7. How can you apply the lesson of honoring others without expecting anything in return in your workplace or family life? What challenges might you face, and how will you overcome them? [10:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Esteeming Others Above Ourselves
Honor is about recognizing the value and worth of others, treating them with respect, and esteeming them highly. In a world where self-promotion is rampant, many feel the need to "toot their own horn" to prove their worth. However, as believers, we are called to honor others, lifting them up so they don't feel the need to elevate themselves. Honor builds up, while dishonor tears down. Our words should leave others feeling valued and encouraged, not diminished. This culture of honor should begin within our church family, where we recognize the inherent value that Jesus places on each of us. [00:33]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally honor today by acknowledging their value and worth? How can you express this in a tangible way?
Day 2: The Heart of True Honor
True honor is not transactional. It is not about giving to receive something in return. Honor is about motives, and when our hearts are aligned with God's love, our actions will naturally reflect that. We must examine our hearts and ask ourselves why we do what we do. Honor is about the heart, and when our hearts are aligned with God's love, our actions will naturally reflect that. This requires a deep introspection and a willingness to let go of selfish desires. [06:09]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What are your motives when you honor others? Are there any selfish desires you need to surrender to God today?
Day 3: Learning from Mary, Martha, and Judas
The story of Mary, Martha, and Judas in John 12 illustrates different approaches to honor. Mary honored Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive perfume, an act of pure love and devotion. Martha was busy serving, but her motives were questioned. Judas criticized Mary's act, not out of concern for the poor, but because of his own selfish motives. This story challenges us to examine our own motives and to honor others sincerely. It reminds us that true honor is not about the act itself but the heart behind it. [21:46]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent act of service or kindness you performed. What was your true motive behind it, and how can you ensure your future actions are driven by genuine love?
Day 4: Honoring Before It's Too Late
We must not wait until it's too late to honor those around us. Honor should be expressed while people are still alive to appreciate it. We should not wait for funerals to express our love and appreciation. Let us be like Mary, who honored Jesus while He was still with her, and let us strive to create a culture of honor that reflects the love of Christ. This means being proactive in our expressions of love and appreciation, ensuring that those we care about know their worth to us. [27:24]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear words of honor and appreciation from you today? How can you make sure they know their significance to you?
Day 5: Finding Peace at Jesus' Feet
Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where we find peace, hope, and freedom. It is a place where we can lay down our worries and find the answers we seek. Let us prioritize spending time with Jesus and let His love overflow into our actions. In doing so, we align our hearts with His, allowing us to honor others genuinely and selflessly. This time with Jesus is crucial for spiritual growth and for cultivating a heart that truly honors others. [34:40]
"And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'" (Mark 5:34, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prioritize spending time at Jesus' feet this week? What specific steps will you take to ensure this time is protected and fruitful?
Quotes
1. "Honor is something that is missing desperately in our world today. We talked about it the last couple of weeks that honor means that when you honor something, that thing, that person carries weight in your life. They have value in your life. You respect them. They have worth. You esteem them. You revere them. You consider them to be valuable. And I believe that we have discounted other people in our lives. God is calling us to a position of honor in our world." [00:00:02] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Because of who we have in our hearts and in our lives to show respect. Because it's not all about me. We live in a world where the world has made it all about them. And all about. But the Bible calls us to die to self. But in a world that's all about me. All about getting mine. That's not a biblical stance." [00:01:18] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Ask yourself, when you've had a conversation with someone about someone else, did what you just say about that other person elevate that person in the ears and the eyes of the person who just listened to you? Or did what you just say dishonor them and decimate them and tear them down? When someone walks away from your conversation about someone else, do they walk away feeling better, more encouraged, and that person that you talked about having been honored, or did you tear them down? Because honor uses words to build up." [00:02:32] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Because when we give love to get love, that's not love, that's a transaction. Love was never meant to be a transaction. It was never meant to be transactional that I give you love and you give me love in return. Jesus gave love without expecting to get love in return. He wanted love, he desired love, there's nothing wrong with you wanting love but when you give it to get it, it is not honor, it is transactional and it's with motive and you set yourself up to be hurt and to feel angry and to feel used." [00:10:08] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Church, and I believe that if we can develop a culture of honor around here where we love people with no strings attached and we, I love you just because I love you and you have value in my life, I believe we can change the world. I believe we can change our community. Because honor, a culture of honor, a culture of love, a culture of love, a culture of honor is counterintuitive. It's countercultural to the world that we live in today." [00:13:31] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And I have to say, I would probably be more in line with Judas or Martha if I didn't stay at the feet of Jesus. See, I know I'm not Mary in that instance, because I would have definitely said, you just dropped $20,000, oh my gosh. A year's wages. It took everything. I wouldn't be that way. Then why do some of us get angry when we walk past an offering bucket in church?" [00:24:11] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And in response to Judas' statement Jesus said you will always have the poor among you but you won't always have me. Jesus is saying there's always going to be something we need to go and do. Someone to minister to. A need that needs to be met. You can run yourself ragged doing for others and miss me is what Jesus was saying. You can serve every Sunday at High Point Church." [00:30:18] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Most of us work so hard to get out of the trouble that we've gotten ourselves into and we think, I made my bed, I've got to lie in it. But can I tell you today, there's one place where you can find peace, unimaginable peace, and it's at the feet of Jesus. Because when you sit at the feet of Jesus, there's no worry, no hurt, no pain that you can't lay at His feet." [00:34:20] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And can I just say, some of you need to get to his feet today and find what you're looking for. Not because I'm expecting anything in return, because I'm already so appreciative for what you've already done for me. And can I just say, some of you need to get to his feet today and find what you're looking for." [00:35:34] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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