“Honor widows who are really widows.” 1 Timothy 5:3

“ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor…” 1 Timothy 5:17

 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor…” 1 Timothy 6:1

Honor

We don’t give much consideration these days to honor. Being raised in another era and in the South where honor was highly esteemed, I was sternly taught to honor my elders, my teachers, and those in authority. I never called an adult by their first name. I quickly got up to relinquish my chair to any adult entering the room. I consistently replied with “Yes, ma’am.” I waited, albeit impatiently, for my Sunday dinner until the men left the table and the women and children could eat. A directive from an aunt or uncle was as binding as if spoken by my parents. They were adults in the family and were to be given due respect and instant obedience.

First Timothy speaks of honoring widows. It assumes widows who have children or grandchildren will be taken care of within the family, for that is what honor demands. Godly widows who have no other support are to be taken care of by the church.

Elders of the church are to be honored for their service and sacrifice, especially those who labor in word and doctrine.

Masters are to be honored. Thankfully we do not have masters, but we do have employers. We honor them with hard work, honesty, and faithfulness. Such a diligent employee not only honors the boss, but honors God through the work of her hands. Work becomes a sacred act. Let it not be said of a believer that she is lazy, comes in late, gossips, or gripes.

Likewise employers honor their employees and God when they treat their work force with the respect of a living wage, benefits, opportunities for recognition and advancement, and a courteous, cooperative atmosphere in the work place. Customers enjoy a good product, fairly priced. To a Christian employer these are issues of importance that trump the profit line.

I once worked for a contractor who repeatedly made things right even when he was not responsible for the problem. I saw when he reworked jobs at his own expense because the customers had changed their minds about what they “really wanted” midcourse. He was generous and encouraging to his employees. He was scrupulously honest and built quality homes that showed his attention to detail and good taste. This man honored God in all that he did.

We need to be careful of our speech in regard to honor. Too easily we resort to jibes, gossip, and criticism about those in authority. They bear the burden of their office and it is much too easy to second-guess them. It would be better to pray for them and allow God, who knows the heart, guide them or correct their course if need be. If confrontation is necessary, it should be done respectfully through due process and not in the media, by rumor, or by inappropriate “humor.”

We are all made in God’s image. That fact alone should prompt us to honor each individual on the planet whether small or great. And in all these things we honor our great God.

Father, in everything we are and in everything we do, may we express glory and honor to You. You have esteemed us beyond what we deserve. May we extend that grace to others. For Jesus’s sake, Amen.