Honor: The Currency of Heaven

In our journey of faith, there are certain qualities we must embrace to fulfill God's greater purpose in our lives. We've explored commitment, focus, and personal responsibility, but today we dive into one of the most crucial qualities: honor. Understanding honor isn't just about good manners or respect—it's about discovering how God's kingdom truly operates.

What Does It Mean to Honor?

Honor is defined as deep respect, esteem, or recognition given to an individual for their intrinsic worth, character, or role. It's not just about liking someone; you may not always agree with a person, but you can still honor the office they hold or their position in your life.

True honor involves treating someone with dignity and deference through both words and actions. If your words and actions don't align, you've stepped out of the spirit of truth. Honor celebrates the value of another person with authenticity and intentionality.

The Weight of Honor

The Hebrew word for honor, "Kobed," means "to be heavy" or "weighty." In biblical times, this signified something valuable and treasured, like gold or precious metals. When someone carries weight in the spiritual sense, their presence shifts the atmosphere when they enter a room.

This is why we feel something significant when certain people walk into a space—they carry the weight of God's authority and presence, not their own power.

Why Does God Command Us to Honor?

The commandment to "honor your father and mother" in Exodus 20:12 comes without qualifications. God doesn't say to honor them only if they were good parents or if they did everything right. The command is based solely on their role as the ones who brought you into this world.

This is the only commandment in the Ten Commandments that comes with a promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." God values honor so much that He promises to extend your life when you practice it properly.

Honoring Others in Daily Life

Romans 12:10 tells us to "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." This means opening doors, buying someone's coffee, smiling at people, and recognizing the humanity in every person you encounter.

However, honor doesn't mean enabling dishonor or allowing people to trample your boundaries. You can honor someone's position without submitting to their abuse. Honor makes you grounded, not gullible.

How Do We Honor God?

Before we can properly honor one another, we must first honor God. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments are interconnected—you cannot truly love your neighbor without first loving God completely.

Honoring God with Our Finances

One of the primary ways we honor God is through our finances. Proverbs 3:9 instructs us to "honor the Lord with your possessions and the first fruits of all your increase, so your barns may be filled with plenty."

Why did God choose finances as a way to honor Him? Because as Ecclesiastes 10:19 states, "money answers everything." Money is how we handle most of life's practical needs, which is why Jesus said we cannot serve both God and mammon (the spirit behind money that seeks our worship).

The Purpose of Wealth

Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that God gives us the power to get wealth "that He may establish His covenant." This isn't about accumulating riches for personal comfort—it's about being blessed so we can be a blessing to others.

When we understand this covenant principle, we realize that our financial blessings come with an assignment: to reach out and establish God's kingdom on earth by helping others in their time of need.

What Happens When We Don't Honor God?

The book of Malachi addresses this directly. God asks, "If I am a Father, where is My honor?" He points out that people were bringing defiled offerings—blind, lame, and sick animals—instead of their best.

When we offer God something that costs us nothing, we're not truly honoring Him. A genuine offering requires sacrifice and intentionality. It should come with vision and purpose, not just be something we give without thought.

The Challenge of Tithing

In Malachi 3:8-10, God asks, "Will a man rob God?" The answer comes in tithes and offerings. A tithe is 10% of what you earn, not what's left after expenses. When we calculate our tithe based on what remains after taxes and bills, we're not truly tithing.

God promises that when we bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, He will "open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

The Reciprocal Nature of Honor

Here's the beautiful truth about honor: when we honor God, He honors us in return. David understood this when he said, "All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You" (1 Chronicles 29:14).

Everything we offer to God originally came from Him. He gives us the power to create wealth, and when we honor Him with it, He multiplies it back to us—not just for our lifetime, but transgenerationally. Our children and grandchildren benefit from our faithful honoring of God.

Life Application

This week, examine your relationship with honor in three key areas. First, evaluate how you honor God with your finances—are you truly tithing 10% of your income, or are you calculating based on what's left after expenses? Second, look at how you honor the people in your life, especially those in authority or family relationships, even when it's difficult. Finally, consider whether you're honoring the gifts and calling God has placed in your life.

Ask yourself these questions: Am I trusting in my bank account more than I trust in God? How can I better honor the people God has placed in my life this week? What gifts has God given me that I need to honor and steward better? Remember, honor is the currency of heaven—when you learn to honor properly, you discover how God's kingdom truly operates.