Text: 1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 2:27-30
Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV
MESSAGE
Although it is a common saying that you give honour to whom honour is due, many people do not honour God who is the most honourable.
Jesus said,
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
Matthew 15:8 NKJV
Though many claims to love Jesus and honour Him, it is mere lips service and vain shows. To these kinds of people, Jesus will never commit Himself. These are people who will rather honour their team leader, pastor, the boss at the office, but accord God little honour.
Our text of the day must drive us to pray and plead with God for help and mercy. What God is saying in this short text is that “I am the priority, not your spouse, children, family, friends, jobs or any other thing”. God deserves to be in the first place in our lives. It is the greatest honour we can accord Him. The silent prayers made before making little decisions show that we prioritize Him and we are totally dependent upon Him.
The Lord further said,
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Matthew 10:37 NKJV
God demands our lives to be totally yielded to Him. The Apostles when faced with the threat would rather dishonour men than dishonour God. Listen to their response to the council:
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
Acts 4:19 NKJV (Also Read Acts 5:29).
Because they honoured God, God also honoured them by sending another blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the believers (Acts 4:31). Truly those who honour God will He honour. Anyone who wants the honour which is not from men who are limited, but from the limitless God must honour Him in all things.
Is God the priority in your life? Do you honour Him with your time and resources? Your service to God will be questionable if you don’t treat worship with great honour.
Some of the things we see in the church today show a great deal of lack of honour for God. Some are seated playing with their smartphones and even answering calls. That is a dishonour to God. Those who are caught in the habit of exposing their bodies in our places of worship must also be warned.
No one can claim to honour God in the heart and it is not visible in his or her conduct and lifestyle. It shows that such is either dishonest or a stack hypocrite.
You must repent today, except you want God to dishonour you. If God will commit the mysteries of the Kingdom into your hands, then you must put Him ahead in all things. God demands and deserves our honour.
REFLECTION
“A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name.
Malachi 1:6 NKJV
Malachi 1:6 NKJV
The greatest proof of our love for God is honouring Him. God deserves not only our worship but also our honour in all things.
PRAYER
Father, please help to honour you in every area of my life.
