Honoring the King! Pt. II

 

 

Honoring Social Authority

 

Honor - it is to value, to treat as precious and weighty, to treat with deference, to submit, and to obey as long as it doesn't contradict Scripture.

 

If we meditate and take this definition to prayer, our behavior will positively affect our workplace, classrooms, or playing fields. If we ask God to fill our hearts with honor toward our social authorities, we will treat them accordingly. Instead fighting for our rights, we will prefer their desires to our own. We will seek to make them successful whether or not we are recognized, or properly paid for our labor.

 

Ephesians 6:5-8 (NLT)

"Slaves (employees), obey your earthy masters (employers or bosses) with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each on of us for the good we do."

 

Notice the statement "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord." The writer suggests that if this is in our hearts we will move from being slaves to servants. I hear you, "I'm not a slave." Before you get bent out of shape, let me tell you the difference between a slave and a servant. A slave does the minimum requirement; the servant does the maximum potential. A slave is stolen from, a servant gives; a slave has to, the servant gets to. The servant looks for opportunities, rather than waits for orders. He foresees the needs of the one he serves and fills them without having to be asked.

 

If you think your boss is treating you unfairly and is hard on you, you need to act and not react. The person who reacts complains of how he's mistreated, or mopes and is unproductive. The person who acts will attack evil with good.

(Rom. 12:21)

"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."

 

Example

 "Sir, I see there is some extra work that needs to be done, so I want you to know that I'm going to come in two hours early for the next week and get this done and you don't need to pay me a thing extra for it."

 

If you address conflict in this manner, you will win the favor of God and eventually man.

Proverbs 3:3-4

"Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people."

 

When we write mercy and truth on the tablets of our hearts we will "find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man." If you don't find favor in the eyes of your boss with this type of honoring behavior, God will open a door in another place where you will find this favor beyond your wildest imagination. (He'll "enlarge" your territory!)

 

It is a law. If you honor the social authorities in your life, God will honor you, and you will be fully rewarded. It may not come from your boss, teacher, or coach, but it will come. God is watching over His Word to perform it in your life.