“In my book he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be!”
—George Bailey to Mr. Potter about his father, Peter Bailey
Honor involves recognizing the glory [Heb. kavod—weightiness, worth] of God, as well as ascribing that honor to those made in his image. When we inwardly honor God and others, it leads to outward righteous words and actions. Therefore, things like respect, obedience, integrity, reflecting value, and a desire for God’s will all flow into place through our actions. God calls us, as his sons and daughters, to reflect his character with honor according to the Truth of his nature.
It is not difficult to witness the lack of honor present in our world. Things like moral and ethical excellence, honesty, fairness, and trustworthiness take personal sacrifice. We must deny self to act at this level of honor and we will be called, by the Lord, to reflect it when those around us refuse to do so. Honor always involves choosing to care for others, even when they do not demonstrate honor toward us. Although it is hard to understand, this is where we experience true spiritual victory.
In our lesson, today, from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey is in Mr. Potter’s office and he has just been offered a very very lucrative job in Potter’s business firm. It is so tempting for George, because he is tired of the struggle. Yet, George’s father stood resilient in honor and no money is worth a lack of self-respect. So, as attractive as the offer was, as George sat smoking a cigar and dreaming about the life he thought he always wanted, he chose to declined the job. Potter realized in that moment George could not be bought, because the righteous ideal of honor had already been planted and growing in George’s life.
Think about a fish vigorously swimming against the current to get upstream, when a multitude of fish are simply floating with the current downstream. Honor takes determination and great effort; something those who do not know God may label as foolish. Choose honor, anyway, because God has not called us to fit into the world. You carry within you the ideals of the Father. Jesus did…now we do! So let’s swim…
OT Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT “Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.”
NT Reading: Romans 12:10 NLT “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the insight from this lesson and we commit to honoring you and others, today. Honor involves your grace and glory which is something the world cannot give. Help us sacrifice self when we need to choose between honor and dishonor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.