Honor One Another

09.  Honor One Another

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:10b

Tonto and the Lone Ranger are riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides are filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turns to Tonto and says, "What are we going to do?" Tonto says, "What you mean 'we,' Whiteman?"

Have you noticed that ever good friend disagree?  Unfortunately, these types of disagreements can split a friendship. In this case, it looks like Tonto is abandoning the Lone Ranger!  If the tables were turned, the Lone Ranger could possibly abandon Tonto!

Why do things like this happen?  Have you also noticed that people tend to watch out for themselves?  We often try to advance ourselves…can you say “ego?”  Look what happens when people put themselves before their spouse in a marriage, before co-workers in their business…in families, in friendships.

This even happens in church!

 So, what is the solution?  Obey the scripture:  “Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:10b

 Look at the different ways this verse is translated:

• "Give preference to one another in honor" --- NASB

·         “Honor others more than you do yourself.” (CEV)

• "In honor preferring one another" --- KJV
• "Give pride of place to one another in esteem" --- NEB
• "Honor one another above yourselves" --- NIV
• "Anticipate each other in showing respect" --- NAB
• "In showing honor to one another take the lead" --- NWT
• "Give your brothers and sisters more honor than you want for yourselves" --- NCV
• "....a willingness to let the other man have the credit" --- Phillips
• "In personal honors put one another to the fore" --- Williams
• "Practice playing second fiddle" --- Message
• "Be eager to show respect for one another" --- TEV

Word Study:

The Greek word proegeomai appears only one time in the pages of the NT writings, twice in the OT documents, and twelve times in the Apocrypha. It means "to go before and show the way, to go before and lead, to go before as a leader.”  http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=4285&l=en

Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies:  In honor preferring one another (th timh allhlouv prohgoumenoi). The verb occurs only here. It means to go before as a guide. Honor is the honor due from each to all. Compare Philippians 2:3 and 1 Peter 2:17.  Hence, leading the way in showing the honor that is due. Others render anticipating and excelling.”    http://www.godrules.net/library/vincent/vincentrom12.htm

 Scripture:

 ⁵ “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

   ⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:5-12 )

Romans 13:7  “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

The Message says for verses 13-17:  ‘Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”

What should our attitudes be toward one another?

"More than half the trouble that arises in Churches concerns rights and privileges and places and prestige. Someone has not been given his or her place; someone has been neglected or unthanked; someone has been given a more prominent place on a platform than someone else --- and there is trouble. It is not easy to give each other priority in honor. There is enough of the natural man in most of us to like to get our rights" (Barclay)

Action:  In light of our human tendencies to put ourselves first, evaluate your attitudes toward other Christians.  Try to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses in relationship to honoring or giving preference to others. 

            Strengths:

            Weaknesses:

Now ask:  How hard or how easy is it for me to give preference to others?

Goal: Commit to being a godly leader in this area of the “one anothers!”  Do exactly what the scriptures say in Romans 12;10b  "Honor (gk. “go before and show the way”) one another before yourself.”  Watch what will happen in their lives, as well as in your own life!

I believe every believer can be a leader in this area of life.  This is truly being  like Jesus when we give preference to others.

Memorize Philippians 2:3-5

(3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”