Episode 13: The Honor Principle
In our self-absorbed culture, the principle of honoring others has fallen away. Yet, honor matters and it definitely matters to God. It keeps pride in check and enables us to elevate others as more important than ourselves.
In the book of Numbers we see a story of dishonor and mistrust. Moses’s brother Aaron and sister Miriam began to speak against him behind his back. Scholars believe Miriam instigated the dishonor, and God severely reprimanded her by His words (Numbers 12) and by striking her with leprosy, forcing her outside the camp for seven days until she was healed. Perhaps she nursed a subtle jealousy that grew as Moses spent his childhood in the palace, while she grew up a Hebrew slave. Her dishonor caused her to question God’s authority in selecting whom He would speak through. The true test of honor isn’t how you treat someone to their face, but how you treat them behind their back.
We also see that when honor is modeled well—people follow.
In 1 Samuel 24 we find David and his men in the deep recesses of a cave that King Saul enters to relieve himself. David’s men think this is David’s time for retaliation, and as he inches towards Saul, David cuts a piece of Saul’s robe off rather than taking his life. In seconds, David’s conscience is burdened as he lets King Saul know what he’s done. The King weeps when he hears of it, and calls David “A better man than me!”
The real test of honor in this case is the impact it had on the men of David. These men would end up in the palace with him one day defending the country—while never forgetting the honor they witnessed in their leader and King…David. Some people are put into authority for reasons known only to God. We can honor the office even if we don’t feel the person deserves the honor. Ultimately, we must honor God to fully understand how to honor other people. When we truly honor Him it’s easier to honor others, regardless of whether they’re rulers in authority or the coffee barista down the street.
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