The Challenge of Honor & Respect

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So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1 Peter 5:6 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.6.NLT

Honor and respect are often associated with people who are established leaders. Up-and-coming leaders often wish to be shown honor and respect.

Yet, there are challenges associated with honor and respect:

• Established leaders think they deserve it, and treat it as an aspect of power and influence over other people.
• Up-and-coming leaders strive to get it, as they believe they are worthy of being shown honor and respect now, opposed to when they are more established in their governing communities.

The Apostle Peter addresses these challenges in 1 Peter chapter 5. He calls both the young and the old to be humble: “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God….”. It does not matter if one is young and full of leadership energy or old with a rich reservoir of leadership wisdom, as followers of Jesus, leaders are challenged to be humble under God’s amazing power.

God is the one who always deserves honor and respect. All of an elder’s wisdom or a youth’s vision are but drops in the ocean compared to who God is and what He does. He is the one who creates and forgives. You and I are made in God’s image or likeness. He is the source of all love and wisdom. He is the author of all truth. His very presence overwhelms with awe and reverence.

“…and at the right time, He will lift you up with honor.” (1 Peter chapter 5) In western culture, no one likes it when someone lifts themselves up in honor. It is considered cocky and arrogant. When honor and respect becomes what leaders strive for, it is lost in that moment of pursuit.

It is quite another story when someone else lifts you up in honor and respect. These are treasured moments of relational trust that are celebrated and cherished.

Imagine God being the one lifting you up in honor and respect. God Himself. Lifting up young and old alike. Establishing honor and respect in their lives. In God’s good time.

Encouragement: Live humbly under the power of God. Don’t seek honor and respect. Focus on God and His power in your life. In due time, God’s time, He will lift you up and establish honor and respect for you. Let God bring honor and respect to your life.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the clear reminder not to seek our own status in this world. Thank You for the reminder that, as a follower and a leader, I am to stay humbly surrendered to God in all of my work and relationships. Thank you that any honor and respect will be established by God on my behalf. In Jesus name, Amen

–Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center