What does it mean to honor God?

Scripture furnishes wonderful examples of men and women, who have honoured God, and of how God honoured them in return. Amongst the many shining examples in Hebrews 11, the parents of Moses find an honoured place. Pharaoh had issued a harsh decree, ordering the destruction of the male Hebrew children at birth. Moses was born at that time, but his parents feared not to break the king's commandment, and hid the child for three months.

She honoured God. See now how He honoured her.

Then go back to the birth of that infant, and think of all that was wrapped up in the faith of that mother, and see how true are God's words, "Them that honour Me, I will honour."

The secret of Daniel's strength was that his heart was right with God, as we read, "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat."

Obedience to the word of God, faith in the living God, separation from the defilements of Babylon are the outstanding marks of these godly men.

In result, these faithful men became witnesses for God, for we read they stood "before the king." God was true to His own word, "Them that honour Me I will honour" (1 Samuel 2:30). So it came to pass that in all matters of wisdom and understanding the king found these faithful men ten times better than all the men of the world.

However great the failure, God will have faithful individuals — overcomers — who again and again will find their faith severely tested. If, however, they purpose in their heart to obey the word of God, to walk in faith in God, and in separation from the defilements of the corruptions around, they will have understanding of the mind of God, and will be honoured of God as witnesses for Himself.

Whatever our possessions are, our first thought should be as to how to honor the Lord in the use of them. For all that we have comes from Him, and in regard to the first fruits of crops, our first thought is to be of Christ, the Giver. We do not need to wait for the proceeds of all our labor for the year, then give a tenth. Rather, though we are not commanded (as Israel was) to give one-tenth of our income to God, yet we are encouraged in 1 Corinthians 16:2, "on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper."

1\. With regard to our bodies; "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:20), 2\. With regard to our spirits and the motives of our actions: "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the slaves of men" (ch. 7:23), and 3\. With respect to the vain conversation (as to all religion after the flesh), received by tradition from the fathers.

If God, in His wise and gracious providence, has been pleased to place you in an humble station of life, thank Him for it; rejoice in Christ always, and seek to glorify Him in it. Walk with God in the place where you are, and do not try to get or step out of it... Honour those who are in a superior position of life to you, according to the divine injunction: to "render to all their dues: fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Rom. 13.) Honour them in their place, and glorify God in yours.

It is to be observed that the Son is the Person in the Godhead who became Man, and knew the sorrows and grief of this world. The One, too, who was despised and rejected of man: reviled, defamed, outcast and treated by the creature as worthless! Spat upon, smitten, scorned and scarred by human beings, divine counsels determine that all must honour Him. How just! how becoming! how cheering to the believer! and what glory to God the Father!

It is their joy, therefore, to see the Son honoured, and the Spirit is here to glorify Him. "The Father loves the Son" we are told by the Spirit, and has given all things into His hand.

How beautiful it is to behold the glorious harmony of counsel, service and power blended in the wonderful operations of the Persons of the Godhead! What will it be when all is brought to eternal fruition according to eternal purpose, when God is all in all?

The temple was there; the offerings were brought; the services went on, just as they had in the time of Isaiah, but there was no heart in it. The offerings that were brought were merely the lame and worthless animals that were no good anyway. God said to them: "offer it now unto thy governor: will he be pleased with thee?" (Malachi 1:8). Yet they dared to give to God "that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick" (Malachi 1:13). They could even ask of God: "Wherein have we despised Thy name?" (Malachi 1:6).

Does this say anything to us today? We go, no doubt, week by week to the meetings. We sing our hymns, we read out of the Bible, we say our "Amen" at the end of each prayer — but is there any more heart in it than in the time of Malachi?

This is well expressed in the opening words of the Westminster Catechism. Question: "What is the chief end of man?" Answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever."