Honour can often be a tricky thing. It is something that must fill our organisations, homes and churches, but must never a desire for it overly fill our hearts. We want honour to be present and prevalent within relationships, but how do we allow honour to be so richly given without our hearts being consumed by expecting too much of it.
A few weeks ago, I had a dialogue with a church leader that didn't make me very happy. In that conversation that leader had told me about problems she was having with her team and how she was not receiving the respect and submission which she deserved. When I asked what the basis of honour should have been in that situation, I was readily pointed to the titles, educational background, accolades and accomplishments of that leader. At that moment, I couldn't even speak.
We need to give honour where honour is due. I'm not saying that we shouldn't respect titles, accomplishments and accolades, but when they become something we anticipate, we fall into a dangerous trap. But honour is something that must be present. We're talking about building a culture of honour in our organisations, but how do we do that without having leaders who exalt the honour they expect to be given?
Be more ready to give than to receive
The saying goes, "it's better to give than to receive" and it couldn't be more true when it comes to honour. When we are quick to expect honour, but not quick to give it out to others, we have a problem. Sometimes we think that because we're in charge and people are following that we should receive more honour than them. That's definitely not how honour works in God's eyes.
Romans 12:10 tells us, "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." What that basically means is that the level that you want to be honoured, you must give twice as much or more to others.
And it's not something that we do for the sake of doing it. When we honour others for the sake of getting honour back, people will know. And more importantly God will know. The desire for honour is such a tricky thing because it easily gets into us, but it can often be so hard to dish it out with much sincerity.
A heart that honours God will readily honour others even when honour is something we don't receive. A leader is not someone who has the highest honours, but someone who give the biggest honours out to others. That's what Jesus did for us. He didn't look to get honour when He came to earth. He came instead to receive our suffering so that in our lives God would be honoured. Honour should be abundant in our cultures, but they are best given out first than anticipated and expected.
