“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
I Timothy 1:17 (NIV)
Paul’s words to Timothy in verses 15-17 sum up the Gospel beautifully. He essentially says:
- I am the worst of all sinners,
- Jesus has extended unlimited patience to me,
- If God would save me, He would save anybody,
- God is owed glory and honor.
The way we live our lives ascribes glory and honor to God. Altering our behavior to make much of God should be prompted by love and gratefulness. The motivation behind these course corrections matters. It matters a lot. Living honorably is not a have to, but a want to – a delight to.
We don’t walk honorably to become saved or even to prove we are saved, but simply because it’s who we are.
Living honorably means we live not to indulge ourselves but to please and magnify God – or in Paul’s words, to give Him glory and honor.
But a caution is in order: fulfilling that purpose can (and often does) spiral downward to legalism, rule-keeping, and self-righteousness when we believe we’re doing it well, and to self-condemnation and shame when we know we’ve failed.
Living honorably is not about keeping rules or checking off a list. It means allowing love to lead out. If I truly love God, I long for my life to honor and please Him. If that is my goal, I am free to “live loved” – free from the consequences of failing, and from the pride of succeeding. I love Him and all glory goes to Him.
Let’s allow Scripture to teach us what walking honorably looks like when it’s lived out:
- “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of your crops…” Proverbs 3:9
The “firstfruits” principle can be applied to our time, our treasure, and our talent. Do I give to God first – or give from what’s left? It takes a much greater step of faith to give to God first, trusting there will be enough left at end of winter, end of month, or end of day. Whether our crops, our paycheck, or our 24 hours per day, giving to God first honors Him and bolsters our faith.
- “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” Proverbs 20:3
Walking honorably might require some walking away. Sometimes that feels decidedly unnatural and certainly un-American! We are conditioned by the world to stand up and speak up – to stick up for ourselves and demand our rights. I don’t think God wants us to be a doormat, but I do think wisdom should prompt some prayer before responding. How many family rifts, broken relationships, and hurt feelings could be avoided if we intentionally, deliberately avoided strife?
- “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19b-20
I’m taking the log out of my eye, as I reflect on this one. When it comes to honoring God with our bodies, I’ll borrow words from Paul and just say that “I’m chief among sinners.” I’m convicted (yet again) that running to chocolate instead of God when I’m hurting (or happy) is idolatry. Many of us may congratulate ourselves that we don’t smoke, do drugs, or get drunk, but isn’t that a pretty low standard if the goal is to honor God with our bodies? I want to live a long life so I can serve my Lord. I’m asking Him to allow me to continue teaching Bible study into my nineties. But I’m also certain that I must do my part to cooperate with God by choosing to make healthier choices, and to exercise and remain active to keep my body running effectively for that long.
Walking honorably is a day-by-day and even a moment-by-moment process. It’s a choice on our part, but also possible only because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
What “walking honorably” choice is God calling you to make?
In this week’s video devotional, Laura shared thoughts about honoring the Sabbath. Does that sound legalistic to you? Watch the video for a new perspective!
“Walking honorably is a day-by-day and even a moment-by-moment process.” Amen.