Many years ago my father was on a business trip to the Middle East. He was regarded as one of the world’s experts in drilling operations, and his training classes were in high demand. While on that trip, my father was invited to attend a dinner party, where he was the guest of honor. One of the ways in that particular culture to honor someone was to serve a lamb’s eye on their serving of rice. I am glad it was my father they honored and not me, as I would not have wanted that treat.
Paul told Timothy his reason for writing the letter in 1 Timothy 3:14. He wanted the church to know how to conduct themselves in the household of God. As you go through Paul’s letter to Timothy, we find that the way that we conduct ourselves in God’s house is with honor. We are to honor the older men as we would a father, and older women as we would our mother. (1 Tim 5:1-2) We are to honor young men and young women. We are to honor the widows. (1 Tim 5:3) We are to honor pastors. Those that rule well and work hard at preaching and teaching are worthy of double honor. (1 Tim 5:17) And most importantly, we are to honor our Heavenly Father. (1 Tim 1:17, 6:15-16).
Tomorrow , at the Connection Church of Albuquerque, we will be looking at honor. We will be taking time to honor our Heavenly Father. We won’t be serving a lamb’s eye on a bed of rice. Fortunately for us, God tells us in Psalm 50 two specific things that honor Him. God tells us, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23) You don’t have to wait until Sunday services to honor God with your thanksgivings. In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you. Throughout each day live with an attitude of thanksgiving. The second way that God mentioned is someone who orders his way aright. This is also not a Sunday event. We should live uprightly seven days a week so that our lives continually honor our Heavenly Father.