Honor

From Stan Tyra

Honor is almost extinct in the day we live. Recently as I watched a little of the Royal wedding, I began to think what a waste of time and money. In my heart I was being cynical about the entire extravaganza. At that moment the Lord spoke to me and said, “Your culture no longer values honor”. It really caught me off guard. As I contemplated that word, I realized how true it was. Most of our culture is based upon dishonor. Most news programs and talk radio is mostly about dishonoring someone else. We have come to the place where we actually honor dishonor. The Bible is very clear about the importance of honor. In the NKJ the word honor is used 178 times. We are called to honor all people not just the ones we agree with. The Bible says, “give honor to whom honor is due”.

I want to see honor restored to the sons and daughters of God. I want the church to be a community of honor that creates a culture of honor. Honor is not merely being nice to one another. Has to do with value. Honor is showing value to another. Honor elevates the status of others. If you give honor, you will receive honor.

Honor carries with it great rewards. Honor is the key to either full or partial reward.

Honor is the essential key to receiving from God.

Honor or dishonor can be displayed in thought, deed or word, but all honor originates in the heart.

Fighting The Tithe pt2

Yesterday I had the tithe on my heart. I spoke about the devourer... and how real he is! I also spoke briefly of honor - honoring salvation delivered. But there is another aspect of this.

Mar 12:41-44 MKJV
(41) And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus watched how the people threw copper coins into the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much.
(42) And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two lepta, which is a kodrantes.
(43) And He called His disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury.
(44) For all cast in from their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has cast in all that she had, all her livelihood.

It's interesting, isn't it, that Jesus did not one time mention the uselessness of giving to an ineffective ministry. He didn't complain that the widow's stewardship was obviously lacking... having given to a corrupt priesthood (and it surely was). Nor did He marvel that the widow didn't ask first where her money was going!

Again, this is what I hear the most from "mature" Christians who struggle with the tithe.

"Well, I just want to give it where it's being used for the right thing."
"I don't like the direction the church is headed."
"If I can't dictate what it's being spent on, I'm just going to hang on to it."

Jesus sat and watched those who were giving. His interest was in one thing. Who is really HONORING God? Who has faith? Those are still His questions.

Point of Acceptance

Sometimes as believers we just need to realize that God is God, He is Holy, and He does not have to share His glory with us at any point. I know I dwell, often, on the state of our nation and the world at large. It seems like such a downward spiral - it can easily grab your focus.

But my focus should be on Him. He's the reason. He sets up kings and brings them down. He promotes His children, and demotes them, as He sees fit to mold us.

He has a plan. None of this is happenstance, or out of control - as chaotic as it looks. I do believe He allows us to coast for extended periods of time upon His wave of grace, and I do believe we can prolong - or avoid altogether - judgment by simply repenting. Yet most of the time we as a culture do not. We push Him further and further away.

Godlessness shows up in our beauty pageants. In our legislation. In our foreign policy. In our churches. In our TV shows.

God, on the other hand, has no choice but to show up in everything else. If we'd honor Him with TV, He might not have to show up in the earthquake. If we'd honor him in our foreign policy, He might not have to show up in a hurricane.

God told Elijah that He was not in the violent shaking of the earth, the fire, or the wind... but rather a still small voice - to Elijah. Elijah belonged to God. Elijah honored God. For a world that does not know Him, or honor Him, I believe very often the only way He can grab attention is through quakes, fires, and floods.