Romans 12:9-13
Verse 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
This next portion of verse 10 may be even harder for us than the first part. If we thought it was hard to honor our parents, we will find this even more difficult because this isn’t about those in our family unit. One of the things we need to remember about this is that Paul said one another and since he was talking to believers we can know he was meaning other believers were to be honored above ourselves.
We talked a bit about honor when we were talking about the commandments but let’s unpack it a bit more. Honor isn’t something we spread around without giving it some thought. To honor others we have to focus on them and decipher what it is that would bring them pleasure even when it isn’t something which would make us happier. This doesn’t mean we are to allow ourselves to become doormats for others, allowing them to abuse us, but it does mean not seeking our desires above theirs. Though there are many ways to honor someone else, we will take a look at just a few.
Sometimes honoring someone means listening to them, not just hearing them say words but actually listening to the meaning and heart behind their words. We can’t honor someone if we don’t know them and their needs and we will never really know them if we just keep nodding and making it seem we are paying attention to what they are saying.
Another way we can honor them by listening to them is by not trying to fix them or tuning out on what they are saying because we are busy figuring out what we are going to say to them in response to the one thing we did hear them say. When we check out of the conversation, even for a moment, we may miss some details which would help us know them and therefore allow us to honor them in the way they need us to.
There is another way we need to honor them and that is in remembering to keep the things they have shared with us as private. There are things each of us hold close to us which we wouldn’t want everyone else to know. They may be things of the past or they may be things we are going through now, but they are our personal struggles and heartaches and we don’t want them to be spread around. If we are to honor others above ourselves, that means holding their hurts and struggles as private as or more so than our own.
Making It Personal
How well do you listen? Do you focus on the person talking to you? How can you honor someone today?
Making It Personal Kids
Do you listen well to others? What are some ways you can honor others? Who do you know who needs honor today?
Closing Prayer
Father, we know we don’t honor others as often as we should. Give us the wisdom we need to truly honor others so we can love them as You have commanded us to. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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