Honour: What Does It Mean?
Proverbs 30
KJV
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Proverbs 23
KJV
22+ Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
Every man or woman has two indispensable personalities: a father and a mother, persons he/she can not ignore or despise.
Why is this so? It is so because his/her life depends on how he/she treats them. Divine ordinances support this statement as stated below ;
Exodus 20
KJV
12+ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Ephesians 6
KJV
Ephesians 6
KJV
1+ Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2+ Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The operative word is “ honour”, what does it mean “ to honour?” Why is this important?
To honour is simply to acknowledge, respect and submit to someone regardless of social, economic, etc status.
What most don’t know is that the above-mentioned (acknowledgement, respect, submission) are the prerequisites for establishing and maintaining a good relationship!.
If we acknowledge, respect and submit to each other we shall have good relationships among and between us; which will result in peace, happiness and goodwill! We shall always be at peace with ourselves.
If in doubt, take time to observe the type of relationship or bond between any two persons you know, ie wife /husband; friends, colleagues at work, school etc
If it is strong it is characterised by these three; if it is weak it is because either one or two of these ( or all ) are missing
A relationship or bond is stronger where these are practised, acknowledgement, respect and submission to one another.
So, this is what it means to honour! To have and to maintain a good relationship with anyone ( father, mother, friend etc) we must acknowledge, respect and submit to one another.
This is why Paul admonished believers to submit to each other
Ephesians 5
KJV
21+ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Philippians 2
KJV
3+ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
(Acknowledgement, respect, submission is implied!)
Where these three are missing here is what it leads to ;
Galatians 5
KJV
26+ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
A word to the wise.
John Franklin Tamakloe