Every body loves to be honoured. When a boss calls out your name as an achiever or performer, you will feel honoured. If your pastor says something good using you as an example, you will feel so honoured that he spoke about you. Also, if the Governor of one's state pays him a visit, that person will tell the whole world about the honour he got by the visit. There is no one on earth who does not like to be honoured. However, it does not come like that and easily. There are many things that can bring honour to us wherever we are and do. The following are just a few of those things that bring honour:
- Proverbs 4: 7 & 8 says "7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her (KJV)". Having wisdom is one of those things in life every one of us should have. It will guide you in decision making, handling issues and challenges and also bring you honour. If you really want honour, you need to ask God for wisdom. This wisdom is not man made or inherited. It is not the type you have as a result of your age but it is what God gives to you. There is a form of wisdom one gets as he becomes older. This wisdom is good but the wisdom that comes from God is what i am talking about. The wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. If you have this kind of wisdom, it will definitely bring you honour.
- The other thing that can bring one honour is DILIGENCE. Pro 22:29 says, " Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. (KJV)". Any man that is diligent in whatever he does will eventually be honoured. Standing before kings and Queens as a result of one's diligence is an honour. What it will bring you is more than the efforts you put into that job, business, education, etc. Diligence goes beyond hard work. It also entails the ideas you put in, creativity, innovation, skills used, punctuality, uniqueness, expertise, professional touch, presentation, etc. Also, we all should know that diligence is our greatest possession. Proverbs 12:27 says, "The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions. NIV". If you want to be honoured, try diligence. It will bring you to places you don't expect yourself to get to.
- Some one once said that ANGER is a choice. There are things and people in life, in our offices, neighbourhood that piss us off daily. They say and do things that make us want to give them a piece of our mind. But we can convert anger in such a way that instead of destroying things with our hands as a result of it, it can bring us honour. Yes, I said honour. The way you manage a situation of anger can either bring shame or honour to you. Proverbs 20:3 says, " It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. (KJV)". I love the way NCV translations puts it. It says " Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor". Also, the NLT translation says "Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling". The GNT translation says "Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them". The various translations make me understand that avoiding strives, fights, arguments will bring you honour. People will offend you but to avoid them and not picking a fight or confrontation with them makes you an honourable person. Stay and do every thing to avoid conflicts though you may be hurt by what they do and you can't stop people from hurting you. Anger can make you destroy things but choosing not to be angry and reacting makes you honourable.
- Honouring your parents brings honour to you. If you do things that make your parents happy and proud, you are not only honouring them but you are also honouring yourself. Exodus 20: 12 says, " 12 Honour thy father and thy mother:that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (KJV)". Some people don't respect their parents and some even insult them. If you disrespect and curse your parents, you are just bringing shame and disrespect to yourself. In my culture, if a child and young person insults his parents, his friends will be the ones that will deal with him. How will you feel when your father or mother says to you, "that is my son or daughter" when you have done some thing good?
- Pride is a major problem many of us are struggling with. It goes before a fall. Some "good" people have been destroyed by it. A few people who have it don't even know they have it. Pro 18:12 says, " Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. (ESV)". I don't really know much about humility, but I know if you are humble, you will be honoured. It is the opposite of pride and it is not looking at yourself as high, important and better off than others. Pride will take you to destruction but humility will take and bring you to honour. Are you proud, then you need to have a rethink. Also, Proverbs 29:23, " A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (KJV)".
- Being rebuked, corrected, and reproofed is something that most people don't like. When this happens, it is painful but it works out some thing good in you if you accept it. However proverbs 13:18 says, " Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. (ESV)". This scripture sums it up. Many people are in poverty because they didn't heed to corrections, instructions and rebuke. Others have been disgraced and brought to shame because they disdained rebuke and correction. But honour will always come to those who accept them. Accepting rebuke is not easy but in the end, it brings honour.
- Many house helps, staffs, colleagues don't respect their boss because of over familiarity and because they think they know more than their boss or master. Proverbs 27:18 says " 18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. (KJV)". Stop trying to prove that you know more than your boss, though it may be true. Your boss is still your boss no matter your experience and exposure. He will eventually honour you if you wait on him. The message translation puts Pro 27:18 this way: " 18 If you care for your orchard, you'll enjoy its fruit; if you honor your boss, you'll be honored. Msg".
- One major ingredient that is lacking in the lives of many today is righteousness. So many good and productive people know that they are lacking some thing vital in their lives but they can't place it. They have not realised that it is right there in front of them. It goes beyond right living. It is the nature of God that makes you stand before God though you are on earth without any guilt and condemnation. It makes you do and live right. This world will be a better place if we all have this nature in is. Also, we can win by righteousness wherever we are on earth. It can bring you honour if you live by it. Proverbs 21:21 says, " 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. (ESV)".
- This is the most important of all. If we all honour God with our lives, words, actions, etc, he will definitely honour us. 1 Samuel 2:30 says, "30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares:‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (ESV)". Also pro 22:4 says, " 4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. (ESV)". Lastly, if we always depend on and call on God concerning all things, He will honour us. For Psalm 91:15 says, " He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:I will be with him in trouble; i will deliver him, and honour him. (KJV)".
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