Introduction:
A. One day a group of four young friends were talking about what they would like to do with their lives.
1. The first friend said, “I want to be a congressman so I can draft laws to benefit my countrymen.”
2. The second friend said, “I want to be a lawyer so that I can defend my countrymen.”
3. The third said, “I want to be a doctor so that I can cure my countrymen.”
4. The three friends looked to the fourth and waited for his response. The young man said, “I just want to be a countryman.”
B. That silly little story captures the differences and the challenges we face as human beings called to be like Christ.
1. The giving, serving, other-centered nature of some is very strong and well-developed.
2. But on the other hand, the taking, selfish, self-centered nature of others is also very strong and well-developed.
3. If we are going to experience real Christian community here at Wetzel Road, then we are going to have to overcome our selfish nature and become more other oriented.
C. This morning we continue our study of the “One Another” passages of the New Testament.
1. Last week, if you will recall, we explored what it means to be devoted to one another.
a. We concluded that being devoted to one another required a decision to be devoted to one another, a determination to stick with our decision, and the demonstration of our devotion.
b. That demonstration will include being present, being attentive and being expressive.
2. Today we want to learn something about what it means to honor one another.
I. The Instruction – Honor One Another
A. I point your attention again to the banner on the left – Romans 12:10 says: “Honor one another above yourselves.”
1. This sentence in the Greek is only three words.
2. The first word in the sentence is the Greek word time - which is translated “honor” means “to show honor, respect, reverence.” (Arndt, p. 817)
a. Another Greek scholar defined time as “that respect shown another which is measured by one’s evaluation of another.” (Wuest, p. 214)
3. The second Greek word is the one for one another – allelous.
4. The third Greek word is proegeomai - which appears only here in the NT and means “preferring, leading or outdoing.
B. Let’s look at the wording in the different English translations and see how it comes from the Greek.
1. The NIV says, “Honor one another above yourselves.”
2. The New American Standard says, “Give preference to one another in honor.”
3. The King James says, “In honor preferring one another.”
4. Today’s English Version says, “Be eager to show respect for one another.”
5. The English Standard Version says, “Out do one another in showing honor.”
6. Another translation says, “In showing honor to one another take the lead.”
7. The Message says, “Practice playing second fiddle.”
C. To “honor” means to put value to something, to consider it precious, weighty, to respect.
1. As Christians, sons and daughters of the King, we are to outdo one another in honoring others, considering them as precious and of value.
2. One way to show honor to others is to put their needs, wants and desires before our own.
3. That’s what Paul was getting after in Phil. 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
4. I like what William Temple said concerning humility, he said, “Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all.”
D. If you are like me, then you have had to struggle with these concepts and principles.
1. Human nature being what it is, most of us are far more concerned about securing honor for ourselves and advancing our own reputations, than we are doing so for others.
2. Backing up Romans 12 to verse 3, we notice that Paul said, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…”
3. And that’s the tendency for many of us. We think too much of ourselves and too little of others.
4. I’m thankful that God has helped me make a lot of progress in this matter, because it was a real struggle for me in my younger years.
5. Many of us do pretty well with the command, “Mourn with those who mourn” but we struggle with the second part – “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”
E. One of the best - worst examples of this was King Saul.
1. You remember when David was the only one to step out and take the giant Goliath up on his challenge?
2. With faith in God, David stepped out and defeated the giant with a sling and a stone.
3. King Saul was pretty pleased with David until he heard the women of Israel singing the praises of the young boy.
4. Their song went like this: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
5. The Bible tells us about Saul’s response: Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. (1 Sam. 18:8-9)
6. Saul couldn’t stand the thought of someone else getting more praise than him.
7. He couldn’t stand having the spotlight taken off him and put on someone else.
F. When someone is getting the honor or attention we crave, we sometimes try to discredit them in some way.
1. That was the case with Aaron and Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses.
2. They didn’t like it that Moses was the one who got to pass on God’s instructions to the people.
3. The didn’t like it that Moses received the honor and the glory while they remained in the background.
4. So they began to speak against Moses.
5. The Bible says that they said: “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Numbers 12:2)
6. Do you remember what happened to Aaron and Miriam? God disciplined them for their criticism and the lack of honor and respect they were showing the Lord and his servant, Moses.
G. What is absolutely essential to honoring one another above yourselves is humility.
1. Honoring and respecting others will not happen when a superior or holier-than-thou attitude is present.
2. In humility we see who God is and who we are in reference to Him – that’s humbling!
3. In humility we see who others are and value them in reference to what they mean to God.
4. God is pretty clear about how valuable each of us are to Him – He loves us enough to allow His Son to die for us.
II. The Application – Honor One Another
A. First of all let’s answer the question – “Whom Should We Honor?”
1. According to the Bible, we own honor to many different persons.
2. First of all, we know that we must honor God.
a. He is worthy of our highest praise and deserves all honor.
b. Rev. 5:12 says: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.”
3. Second, we need to honor all those who are in authority over us.
a. Citizens are to honor their rulers (1 Pet. 2:17).
1. That was commanded while the Christians were living under Nero.
2. Regardless of who is president, or Senator, or Mayor, we must respect the office.
b. Slaves are to honor their masters (1 Tim. 6:1-2)
1. Bosses and employers are often the brunt of ridicule, and sarcasm, and some maybe well-deserved, but that is not to be the attitude or actions of God’s people.
c. Children are to honor their parents (Ex. 20:12)
b. Believers are to honor their elders (1 Thess. 5:12-13)
4. Third, we need to honor everyone – honor one another.
a. Our society is quick to give honor to those who are “high fliers” – the rich, successful, beautiful and talented.
b. The kind of honor that Rom. 12:10 commands has nothing to do with who people are, what position they are in, or what they produce.
c. We are to honor one another above ourselves because God loves and values all people.
B. Let’s answer another question – “How can we demonstrate that we honor others above ourselves?”
1. I would like to give a few examples and let them speak for themselves.
C. A great biblical example of this was something that happened between Abraham and his nephew.
1. Do you remember how the tensions were rising between Abraham and Lot’s servants.
2. They were getting too numerous and were beginning to fit over grazing rights.
3. So Abraham and Lot decided they needed to separate their two families and put a little distance between them.
4. Here’s where the honoring one another above yourselves comes in.
5. Abraham, who was the older, more important and more wealthy of the two should have had the first choice of the land, but that’s not what happened.
6. Abraham turned to Lot and said, “I’ll let you chose. If you go to the right, I’ll go to the left, and visa versa.”
7. Lot took what he thought was the best, well-watered land near the Jordon, and proceeded to pitch his tent near Sodom.
8. Abraham honored Lot above himself.
D. Here is an impressive story told about Queen Elizabeth.
1. At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, an elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well.
2. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest, until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds the lady was wearing and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth!
3. Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, “Ma’am, oh, ma’am, I’m sorry ma’am. I didn’t recognize you without your crown!”
4. Queen Elizabeth replied, “It was so much Sir Robert’s evening that I decided to leave the crown behind.”
5. Queen Elizabeth wanted the birthday boy to be honored above herself.
E. Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of humility.
1. Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman.
2. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her.
3. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested.
4. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace.
5. A little girl who was her neighbor, recognized him and revealed his identity to the lady.
5. The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely.
6. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” he replied. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.”
7. She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart.
8. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.
9. Booker T. Washington honored that woman above himself.
F. The NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony this year was a contrast in humility.
1. NBA icon Michael Jordan now sits among the legends of his sport as a member of the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame.
2. But, his speech during the ceremony appears to have rubbed some folks the wrong way.
3. One columnist for Yahoo Sports thought Jordan’s speech at Symphony Hall was “petty, unfocused and uninspired,” and that he spent much of the time “disparaging people who had little to do with his career, like Jeff Van Gundy and Bryon Russell.”
4. Jordon “ignored people who had so much to do with it, like his personal trainer, Tim Grover,”
5. Wojnarowski wrote. “This had been a moving and inspirational night for the NBA – one of its best ceremonies ever – and five minutes into Jordan’s speech it began to spiral into something else. Something unworthy of Jordan’s stature, something beneath him.”
6. “Jordan spent more time pointlessly admonishing Van Gundy and Russell for crossing him with taunts a dozen years ago than he did singling out his three children. When he finally acknowledged his family, Jordan blurted, in part, to them, “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.”
7. Wojnarowski continued: “No one ever feels sorry for Isiah Thomas, but Jordan tsk-tsked him and George Gervin and Magic Johnson for the 1985 All-Star game ’freeze-out.’ Jordan was a rookie, and the older stars decided to isolate him. It was a long time ago, and he obliterated them all for six NBA championships and five MVP trophies.”
8. “Worst of all,” Wojnarowski added, “Jordon flew his old high school teammate, Leroy Smith, to Springfield for the induction. Smith was the upperclassman his coach, Pop Herring, kept on varsity over him as a high school sophomore. He waggled to the old coach, ‘I wanted to make sure you understood: You made a mistake, dude.’ ”
G. Contrast that with the speech given at the same ceremony by David Robinson who was also being inducted into the Hall.
1. Robinson had been somewhat of a superstar in his own right.
2. David Robinson’s 14-year career included two NBA titles, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals.
3. David Robinson is a born-again believer, and actually came into church in San Antonio where we were visiting and sat right in front of us!
4. Robinson began by giving personal and loving words to each of his three sons, telling them how much he loved and treasured them.
5. Here was a man who had just received the highest honor in his sport and he turned it into a father/son moment that his boys will never forget.
6. He then spoke lovingly to his wife, honoring her publicly.
7. And then he took time to honor others who were there to support him.
8. He called George Gervin (former San Antonio Spur and Hall of Famer) “the original Mr. San Antonio.
9. He called Larry Brown, his former San Antonio, Hall of Fame Coach, “a basketball genius.”
10. He called Avery Johnson the spiritual force behind the Spurs, and gave Tim Duncan these words of honor: “He’s the greatest power forward to play the game.”
11. David Robinson is a man who knows how to honor God and how to honor others above himself.
H. Let me give you one more illustration.
1. Have you ever noticed a piano accompanist?
2. They are someone who accompanies a singer or another musician, like a violinist.
3. What’s amazing about them is that they are usually extraordinary musicians, but their mission is not to bring attention to themselves.
4. Their desire and goal is to make someone else “look and sound good.”
5. They make sure that their own volume is “just right” so as not to drown out the vocalist or musician.
6. They are able to accent when necessary to assist the other person during challenging parts, and they even can cover up the other person’s mistakes.
7. Ultimately, their own personal excitement and satisfaction comes from helping the vocalist or instrumentalist to be honored for their accomplishments.
Conclusion:
A. So, honoring others means valuing others and letting them know we value them.
1. Honoring others means putting them ahead of ourselves.
2. Honoring others means being willing to make sacrifices for them.
3. And honoring others means helping others “look and sound good.”
4. We should rejoice when others achieve and are successful and receive honor.
B. When we obey God’s command to honor all people, we are ultimately honoring and obeying God.
1. How will God reward us?
2. Jesus said: “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (Jn. 12:26)
3. When we obey the Lord by humbling ourselves and by giving honor to others, God will personally bestow honor and blessing on us.
4. So here is God’s principle: The more honor we give, the more we receive.
Resources:
Building Up One Another, by Gene A. Getz, Victor Books, 1981
“Honor One Another,” Sermon by Adrian Dieleman, SermonCentral.com
