Culture of Honor: Part 1

We’ve all heard the phrase, “it’s an honor,” “we need to honor,” and so on. But what does it really mean to honor someone? What does it look like in our everyday lives to honor those around us? In a culture where honor is very much lacking at times, how do we establish a culture of honor in our own lives? 

Jesus was obviously the prime example of what it looks like to show honor. Honor is a mark of respect. But we can see from scripture that Jesus didn’t just honor the people who “deserved” it. He honored everyone he came in contact with. 

It helps me to define a word as I’m studying out. Here’s what the word honor means in both English and Hebrew. 

Definition of Honor – To regard or treat with honor, esteem, to respect, to revere; to treat with deference and submission; when used with a supreme being – to reverence, adore, to worship. 

Webster’s Dictionary defines honor – esteem, high estimation, respect, consideration, reverence.

The Hebrew word for honor is Kabad: it means to have honor and glory, to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome. The usage of this word means achieving honor, becoming fierce, becoming heavy, boasting. 

Sometimes it also helps to see the opposite meaning of the word I’m studying out. 

Definition of Dishonor – to disgrace, shame, or reproach. 

So what does it mean to dishonor? Dishonor is withholding honor where honor is due and shows a lack of respect. In many ways, it means to bring history forward. To remind people of who they were, how they deserve to be treated apart from the blood of Christ. But even Jesus does not treat us as our past deserves. 

2 Corinthians 5:19 – For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

Psalm 103:10 – He does not punish us for all our sins: he does not deal harshly with us, as our sins deserve.  

Jesus does not look at us as we used to be at our old man. He has made us into new creations! In the same way, we cannot look at people and keep them in the past of their mistakes. This brings dishonor to those we are called to honor. Instead, we need to ask Holy Spirit to give us revelation in how to bring honor to those we may have a difficult time loving. Our first commandment is to love God and love others. We cannot love one another without first honoring one another. 

Everyone has a culture that they live by, whether it is by design or accident. If we ignore the building of our own culture, the culture we live in will be made for us. And we may not like it! If we are not cultivating a culture of honor, then what culture are we living in? 

One who is worthy of honor is esteemed and regarded. Another definition of honor is to assign value. What we honor we place value on. We must value others highly. If you are having a hard time honoring, it may be time to ask what lens you are viewing people through. Are you seeing them through your own lens – a lens filled with our own hurts and opinions? Or are we viewing people through the lens of Holy Spirit? Through the lens of love? 

Recently, I started going out rock hunting so I could find semi-precious stones to use in my jewelry. I was so excited to find crystals and agates and all sorts of pretty stones. But there was A LOT of dirt. There were a lot of rocks that were just regular old rocks. It took time and energy to find the semi-precious stones I was looking for. It took some digging. It took getting down into the river bed and searching for the stones I wanted to find. 

It’s the same with people. You will see what you are looking for. It’s easy to find dirt! You have to dig to find the gold in people. But that is what Jesus did for us. He brings the gold to the surface. We need to bring the golf forward when we are viewing others. We need to dig down deep and bring the treasure out of people. Because in the end, that’s what it’s all about. Jesus is all about PEOPLE! And so should we be as His followers. 

In His Love, 

The Sanctioned Love Team