Honor is a response to the character of God.
Chances are if you have kids in sports or competitions of any kind, you have a growing collection of ribbons and medals, sashes and badges, certificates, trophies, or plaques. Some might hang on your walls or sit propped up on shelves somewhere. But if we’re honest, others get stuffed into a drawer and eventually thrown out. These were so important when they first came into our homes, but at some point they just lost their value. All those awards and medals can only mean so much, because honor has a deeper meaning.
People should not just be honored because of what they do; they should primarily be honored because of who they are. Stuff will lose value over time, but not people. At its core, honor is seeing people the way God sees people. We’re naturally wired to put ourselves first, but honor is the opposite of self-centeredness. It is something that flows from your relationship with God. In a sense, one of the best ways we can HONOR God, is by honoring those who reflect the image of God.
Throughout Scripture we see how much God loves us:
He created us in His image.
He knows the number of hairs on our heads.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
He pursued a relationship with us even when we wanted nothing to do with Him.
He sent His only Son to pay for our sins to make an eternal relationship with Him possible.
And He did all of this for us without us even asking.
Jesus was the ultimate example of someone who showed others their value.
When Jesus came here, He showed us how to love and show honor to those around us. He taught us to love our enemies, care for the “least of these,” and become the servants of all who puts others’ needs before our own.
That’s why it’s important for us to help our kids and families discovery more about honor—letting someone know you see how valuable they really are.
Our Memory Verse for November comes from Romans 12. Throughout the chapter, Paul casts a vision for the church and how they can live as people transformed by God’s Holy Spirit.
In Romans 12:10, we read, “Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.” (NIrV) As kids memorize this verse, we hope they understand that honor includes seeing others how God sees them. When kids start doing that, they will be more willing to show God’s love to others and put their needs ahead of their own.
One place you can go as a leader or parent to help kids understand the concept of honor is the life of David. There are some powerful lessons about honor that show up all throughout David’s story. Here is a quick overview of what we’ll be covering throughout November.