HONOR AND RESPECT

Treating others with dignity, value, and as beloved children of God.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The word 'honor' means to esteem, respect, or assign value to someone. We treat others respectfully because we value them. This applies to respecting God AND respecting all people. We can only truly honor and respect others when we have a proper perspective of God, what we are, and who others are in relation to us and God.

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.1 Peter 2:17-18

Skilled Characteristics

  • Humble

    Speaks with a humbleness of heart – not lifting oneself up above others

  • Positive Words

    Avoids saying negative or hurtful words about others – but instead speaks out life-giving, positive, and encouraging words to others

  • Prefer

    Giving others preference or first choice – or allowing others to go first

  • Follow-Through

    Following through on our promises and commitments – paying our dues and debts

  • Righteous

    Acting and speaking in ways that are honoring and respectful toward God, His character, and His truth

  • Listening

    Listening to and respecting our parents, spouse, children, elders, those in authority, and our neighbors

“We treat people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you.”

– Mary Kay Ash

Unskilled Characteristics

  • Prideful

    Considers oneself better or more important or more valuable than others

  • Cutting

    Speaks words to others that are cutting, sarcastic, mean, and/or hurtful

  • Ignores

    Does not listen to others – does not respond to others when they speak – does not consider people’s input, treats people as if they don’t exist

  • No Ask

    Does not ask people for their input, opinions, questions, or suggestions

  • No Consideration

    Does not consider how one’s actions, decisions, or words may affect others or make them feel

“It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.”

– Mark Twain

Causes of Weakness

  • Pride

    Has a feeling of superiority over others

  • Prejudice

    Believes that certain types or groups of people are less valuable, intelligent, capable, or important

  • Self

    More concerned about making onself look good than about honoring and respecting others

  • Neglect

    Has been dishonored and disrespected in the past and still carries anger and resentment about it

  • Experience

    Has not been shown honor and respect and thus does not know what it looks like to show honor and respect

  • World

    Has been influenced by the desires of this world, seeking one’s own honor and status rather than being willing to give it up for God and others

“If honor were profitable, everyone would be honorable.”

– Thomas More

Advice

Review the simple application steps below and choose 1 or 2 things you can do to spur yourself on to further growth.

  • Repent

    REPENT: Is it difficult to honor, respect and value others if we hold ourselves in too high of regard. Instead, we must have an attitude of meekness and humility. The apostle Paul tells us to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Remember that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God – including you!

  • Parents

    PARENTS: Honor your parents in all you say or do. We do not honor our parents because they always act honorably, but because God tells us to. There are no exceptions. Look for opportunities to bring healing and restoration to your relationship with your parents. In addition, make sure that as a parent, you are honoring and respectful of your children. Make sure you encourage and correct your children in ways that maintain your children’s dignity, self-respect and honor.

  • Spouse

    SPOUSE: The bible is clear that husbands should honor their wives, not always finding fault, but instead finding ways to praise, honor and encourage them. Likewise, the bible says that wives should honor and obey their husbands. When your children see you treating each other with honor and respect, it will be much easier for them to treat you (and their future spouse /family) with that same level of respect, too.

  • Give Preference

    GIVE PREFERENCE: Look for opportunities to give preference (or higher value) to others: women, the elderly, your leaders, spiritual elders, widows, your colleagues, and the poor and needy. Think about creative ways to show them value. Perhaps you can let them go first in line, stand up for them and give them a seat in the bus, smile at them, give them a handshake or bow, say words of appreciation and thanks, write them a letter, etc.

  • Follow-Through

    FOLLOW-THROUGH: One of the best ways to honor others is to follow-through on whatever is it they may have asked of you or that you may have committed to do for them. Following through on commitments shows others that you value and respect them. Lack of follow-through, on the other hand, can be greatly dishonoring and disrepectful. This same principle applies to following the laws of the country or culture that you are in. Just as you show honor to God by following His commands, make sure you show honor to others by respecting and following their cultural traditions (as long as they aren’t ungodly) and obeying the law of the land.