How Dare You Question My Honor - Apples of Gold - May 16, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 16, 2008

“How Dare You Question My Honor”

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

In the old days, men fought to defend their honor.

If someone called you a liar, you said in your best gunslinger voice, “Let’s step outside and settle this.”

Or better yet, just pull out your gun and settle it now.

They called that defending your honor, but I think it’s more like pride.

See, there is a line between honor and pride.  Pride is very touchy, but honor stands strong.

And you know what?  I really don’t think honor has to be “defended.”

If you are truly honorable, it stands for itself, doesn’t it?  Do you really have to fight for your honor?  I think the whole idea of fighting over your honor shows you really don’t have it to begin with.

Where did I come up with that?  From Proverbs 20:3.  “It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.”

Have you ever seen someone fly into a rage to defend their honor?  It immediately waters down their honor, doesn’t it?

I’ve seen people go off the deep end to defend the honor of their children or their spouse or other family members.  On the surface, it seems like a really noble thing to do.  “You said what?  Those are fightin’ words!”

But the Bible says it’s more honorable to avoid strife, not rush into it.

So there is a biblical form of honor, and a worldly form of honor.  Worldly honor is almost looking for strife, while biblical honor seeks to avoid it.

We don’t talk much about honor in America today.  We talk about getting ahead and the American Dream, and we talk a lot about our rights, but we rarely talk about honor.

I like what it says in Hebrews 13:18.  “We…desire to live honorably in every way.”

So what does biblical honor look like?

Let me tell you, biblical honor looks a lot like humility.

It starts with humility before the Lord.  He is Master and we are servants. 

Proverbs 22:4 says that humility and the fear of the Lord bring honor.

So to live honorably in every way we must start with humility before the Lord.

When it comes to worldly honor, you don’t see much humility.  It’s hard to be humble when you are cracking on people.

Now imagine the most humble person.  What would the most humble person do if someone questioned their honor?  Would they throw a hissy fit?  Actually, I picture them being very strong, and rather quiet.  I see them like a rock, like a boulder.  You can yell and even push, but the boulder won’t react.  It doesn’t have to.  It’s a boulder.

Proverbs 18:12 says that “humility comes before honor.”

So a key component to true honor is humility before God, and humility in general.

The next time someone dishonors you, can you react with humility?

“Doug, I can’t just stand there and let someone dishonor me or my family.”

I know.  It sounds unnatural, doesn’t it?  And that’s precisely the point.  This is something beyond human nature.  It’s of a higher order.  And that’s what true honor is, something of a higher order.  True honor is something the average man does not have.  We can only do it as we submit to the Lord and then He works within us.

True honor is when the Lord honors us.  Unless we are honorable in God’s eyes, we are not honorable at all.

So how can we be honorable in God’s eyes?

One way is by serving Jesus.  In John 12:26 Jesus said, “My Father will honor the one who serves Me.”

Some who serve Jesus are twice as honorable, according to First Timothy 5:17 – “the elders who direct the affairs of the church…especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

Proverbs 27:18 says it’s honorable to look after your master.

Proverbs 13:18 says it’s honorable to heed correction.

If you look closely, you see humility running through all of that.  It’s humble to look after your master – and it’s honorable.  It’s humble to heed correction – and it’s honorable.  It’s humble to be a servant, both a servant of Jesus, and a servant of the church – and it’s honorable.

So the next time someone questions your honor, don’t strike back.  Don’t start an argument and stir up strife. 

Instead, be humble before God and man, for it’s humility that truly proves your honor.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Romans 2 gives us another way to be honorable – by always doing good. 

Proverbs 21:21 says that it’s honorable to pursue righteousness and love.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 says that a little folly outweighs honor.

Proverbs 25:27 says that it is not honorable to seek your own honor.

© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
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