HONOURING OTHERS ABOVE OURSELVES

God created us to live as honourable people – honouring God, honouring others, and experiencing the joy of living as a person of dignity and honour. 

Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10 NIV)

God knows the best way for us to live.  He has given us life principles in the Bible to teach us how to act in honourable ways towards others.  When we invite God to come and live in us, He fills us with the love and strength we need to put His ways of honouring and respecting others into practice in our daily lives. 

When someone asked Jesus which of God’s laws was most important, Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39 MSG)

Governments make laws in the belief that they will inform the community how to act in honourable ways towards one another.  However, society seems to be on a collision course with the rule of law and appears to be more interested in individual rights rather than in living in a way that honours the common good.  Many of us have found ourselves in trouble because life without honouring God and our neighbour does not lead to loving our neighbour as ourselves. 

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.  All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:1, 3 NIV)

God’s invites us to choose to honour Him, honour others, and in doing so, find the dignity and respect we long to experience.

Prayer:  Gracious God, My desire is to live in a way that honours You and others.  I ask You to give me the will and desire to follow Your principles in all that I say and do so that I may experience Your good, pleasing and perfect will for my life.  Amen