Honor’s Reward - Honor There were twin boys born into a wealthy family with the expectation of receiving an exorbitant portion of their father’s riches. Upon completing their basic education, their father presented them with an option for what might be done with the present value of their shares. They could receive it all and be free to leave home to use it however they saw fit. Or, they could choose instead to spend their days at their father’s side, observing his ways and hearing his instructions for life and building a successful business. By receiving this second option, they would not have access to riches until their father died. The choices were made, one for immediate disbursement and one for delayed riches in their father’s counsel. The one with the lump sum presently found himself in chooser’s remorse, having squandered it all on things that only depreciated and became worthless. He wished he had made his brother’s choice. Unlike him, he had initially seemed to be missing out on good times until the careful attention he gave to his father’s instruction was applied to his own life. The honor given to his father’s provision of wisdom began to be greatly rewarded. This worth would prove to be more than the delayed disbursement. In Christ, we’ve become joint heirs with a heavenly inheritance that secures us forever in a heavenly home beyond this life. For our remaining years here on the earth, however, we have the option to use available resources as we see fit or consider them worthless compared to the treasure of wisdom at the Father’s side. By treating each of His words as if they are essential for life, this honor is promised to receive a return of great honor from the Father in an earthly provision that cannot be contained. If we will only acknowledge Him in all our ways, this trust will provide more than we could ever imagine or plan for on our own. Those who honor Him with all that is in their hand will receive more than their hand can contain in the honor of the Father. This will not only be for natural resources but also for health, relationships, emotions, etc. Valuing His Word far above anything else in every aspect of life will activate a heavenly provision that leaves nothing out. How great is our portion to be most enjoyed in the return of honor we’ve given the Father in His presence. Notes Honor The recognition and provision of value: Honor as a reward for honor 1 Samuel 2:30-32 (TLB) 30 “Therefore, I, the Lord God of Israel, declare that although I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi could always be my priests, it is ridiculous to think that what you are doing can continue. I will honor only those who honor me, and I will despise those who despise me. 31 I will put an end to your family, so that it will no longer serve as priests. Every member will die before his time. None shall live to be old. 32 You will envy the prosperity I will give my people, but you and your family will be in distress and need. Not one of them will live out his days. What does God’s honor look like, and how is it received? Key to honoring God – value of His thoughts over every other value Psalms 19:9-11 (NKJV) 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. To honor God – act as if His Word is true Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Our words can bless – but God’s Word highly honors Proverbs 10:20-22 (NKJV) 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. To disregard God’s will is to despise/dishonor Him and disable His honor 2 Samuel 12:9-10 (NKJV) 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' God’s honor in spite of… 1 Chronicles 17:17-18 (NLT) 17 And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O LORD God! 18 “What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. Naaman’s word 2 Kings 5:13-14 (NKJV) 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Honoring with first production – activates God’s honor Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT) 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. Free giving – participation in God’s honoring someone 2 Chronicles 31:10 (NLT) 10 And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, “Since the people began bringing their gifts to the LORD’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The LORD has blessed his people, and all this is left over.” Activated honor from obedience to give Malachi 3:10-12 (NLT) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The willing offering for the temple to honor God 1 Chronicles 29:7 (NLT) 7 For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron. Obedience to give – activates God’s powerful honor Luke 6:38 (NKJV) 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." God’s honor activated by our obedience 2 Corinthians 9:7-11 (NKJV) 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Holding to what God said – activates His honor Hebrews 10:23 (AMPC) 23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. God’s honor activated by our obedience 2 Corinthians 9:7-11 (NKJV) 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Activated faith in the Word activates God’s honor Philemon 1:6 (AMPC) 6 [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory]. Overview: There is an expectation of God’s honor for us when we honor Him. He recognizes what is of true value to us and provides it in abundance. Our honor of His Word in obedience activates His honor of us in provision. Disregarding God’s will is despising/dishonoring of Him and disabling His honor of us. Honoring in giving has a direct enabling of His honor in resources. We participate in God’s honoring of someone by honoring Him with our gifts. In whatever God has said about our health, emotions, freedom, etc. there is an opportunity to either honor Him in faith or despise Him by doubting. In every aspect of our life, we can activate God’s honoring provision by honoring Him in faith. Prayer: Father, fill me with the knowing of this treasure that is mine in Christ so that my honor of You and Your Word is greater than any other value in my life. Help me to know where I am dishonoring Your Word in my thoughts, words, and actions so that I may know the fullness of Your honoring me as I turn from dishonoring to only fully honoring You. Declarations: My Father’s amazing honor of me is activated by my honoring of Him and His Word. My heart to give from a heart that is honoring God activates God’s honoring provision in my life. By responding in faith to what God has said, I am honoring Him and activating His honor of me. When I disregard His known will I am dishonoring Him and disabling His ability to honor me. For every area of my life that God has spoken a Word, I have an opportunity to honor and activate His honor.