Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10
Today's generation has done a great job at ruining the concept of honour. We think honour is something we give to someone based on their performance. Based on how much we like them. In the Bible, honour is to do with value, worth and weight. And it's something freely given. Honour is a strong biblical concept.
Honour is to treat with respect or reverence; having a good reputation characterised by integrity. Not to honour means to treat something as common. Where is the honour? Don’t you ever wonder that? TV shows women berating their men, men looking with lust at other women that are not their wives, children talking to their parents in a disrespectful way.
It is our responsibility to bring honour back. D7 church is a house of honour. When you value something you are able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Honour elevates, dishonour decimates.
Here are three things about honour: - It’s a decision not a reward. We might think that some people in our world don’t deserve honour, but neither do we because:
...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
- The amount you receive is determined by the amount you give (see Ezra 7:27-28, Gal. 6:7). Every time you deny honour you miss an opportunity to receive it. God deserves honour. The people in your world deserve your honour because they were created in God's image.
- The amount you give is determined by the amount of value you perceive. Honour will protect, praise, prioritise. In a nutshell if you love you will honour.
In order to bring this to reality let's look at a practical example of honour.
Are we honouring the women in our world? Are we honouring them by showing them respect? Do you treat woman as an object? Are you rude to them? Remember this:
If you are rude you are wrong! Period. I am talking about your wife, mother, sister, the woman in church.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and
treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1
Peter 3:7
In the previous verse,
1 Peter 3:6, the Bible says that women are prone toward Fear (great tip for us guys!). Those fears that the women have are legitimate. If a woman marries a man, she’s trusting him with the rest of her life that he won’t hit her, cheat on her, that he’ll work hard, that he’ll pay the bills, that he’ll love their children, that he’ll walk with Jesus and finish the race well, that if she gets sick, he’ll look after her.
It is a terrifying thing for a woman to trust a man.
Women have legitimate fears and what the word of God (the Bible) is saying is that men need to be in a particular way so that those fears are alleviated. We need to relate to the women in our world “in an understanding way, showing them honour.” That’s a D7 man! Now many of us will nod our head and say, “Yep, that’s me.” but the truth is that every man has areas of repentance and growth that are required in order for them not only to grow old but to grow up too.
D7 men you’re not looking for a girlfriend if you are single. You’re not looking for a roommate. You’re not looking for a cohabitation partner. You’re looking for a wife.
You’re not the flirt guy.
You’re not the download porn dude.
You’re not the “I got another girl on the side I always keep in case of emergency” kind of guy.
You’re not the wandering eye guy.
You’re not the “white lies” guy.
You’re not the “short fuse” guy.
We need to take responsibility for the well- being of the woman in our world. We need to protect them from harsh words, plain rudeness, physical harm, items that are too heavy for them to carry, our lack of commitment to their well- being, their reputation, their purity, their right to feel safe and secure among other things.
Starting now, how can you honour the woman in your world?
D7 men are gentlemen. And gentlemen you are stronger than the woman in your world.Do you ever hit her? (How about your tongue, do you abuse them verbally?), do you ever push her?, do you ever grab or restrain her?, do you ever raise a hand and threaten her?, do you ever intimidate her with physical violence?, do you ever give her "the looks"?
Losers do the above! There are simply no excuses for that type of behaviour. Women are supposed to feel safe around us. Christian, husband, father, employee. Those are your first four duties and they will take most of your life. You’re not going to have a lot of time so start working at it now.
Ask the women in your world for feedback and how you can honour them. Do they feel safe around you? Do they feel respected and honoured?
