HONOUR A person or thing that brings esteem. The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right: SOMETHING REGARDED AS A RARE OPPORTUNITY AND BRINGING PRIDE AND PLEASURE; A PRIVILEGE. A THING CONFERRED AS A DISTINCTION, ESPECIALLY AN OFFICIAL AWARD FOR BRAVERY OR ACHIEVEMENT. (Source: OXFORD DICTIONARY)
HONOUR Honour means a state of being in great reputation or notability, or for a man to ascend to a new level of admiration. It also means holding or having a respectable position in society.
KEY #1 HONOUR THE LORD
Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the Lord says: 'FAR BE IT FROM ME; FOR THOSE WHO HONOR ME I WILL HONOR, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV
HONOUR THE LORD WITH PRAISE Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Psalms 66:1-2 NKJV
HONOUR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSION Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase Proverbs 3:9 NKJV
HONOUR THE LORD BY BEING GENEROUS TO THE POOR Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but HE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE NEEDY HONORS HIM. Proverbs 14:31ESV
KEY # 2 LOVE GOD S HOUSE
Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, And the place of the tabernacle of Thine honour. Psalms 26:8 YTL
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Psalms 65:4 KJV
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. Psalms 92:12-13 KJV
KEY # 3 PURSUE GODLINESS AND LOVE
Anyone who wants to be godly and loving finds life, success and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NIRV
The pursuit of godliness and love will lead to the discovery of life, success and honour
You may be gifted, talented, committed, zealous, eloquent, but if you are ungodly, you have missed the mark of true honour.
True godliness captures our affection not just what we do for God, but for God Himself. It produces a longing for more of Him, that leads us to live like Him
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple" (Psalm 27:4)
"Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You" (Psalm 63:1)
"For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly. Philippians 3:10
A godly person is always craving for more of God in spite of his current experience of God
Being busy for God is completely different from being busy with God.
Martha was busy for God, Mary was busy with God.
Martha wants to do more for God, but Mary wants to do more with God.
The pursuit of godliness has adequate resource to thrive on.
HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A GODLY LIFE through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2Peter 1:3-4
The pursuit of godliness requires determined effort for improvement
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness 2Peter 1:5-6
The pursuit of godliness requires total denial of ungodliness
instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; Titus 2:12
The pursuit of godliness has eternity in view
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13
The pursuit of godliness is marked with zeal for good works
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14
The pursuit of godliness demand daily exercise in godly living
But refuse godless bubbe-meises, AND EXERCISE YOURSELF IN GODLINESS. 1Timothy 4:7 CJB
KEY # 4 ACCEPT CORRECTION
A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced, BUT THE ONE WHO ACCEPTS CORRECTION WILL BE HONORED Proverbs 13:18NCV
KEY # 5 EMBRACE HUMILITY AND THE FEAR OF THE LORD
By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
A man's pride will bring him low, BUT THE HUMBLE IN SPIRIT WILL RETAIN HONOR. Proverbs 29:23 NKJV
KEY # 6 LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. IF ANYONE SERVES ME, HIM MY FATHER WILL HONOR. John 12:26 NKJV
Take care of a fig tree and you will have figs to eat. SERVANTS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR MASTER WILL BE HONORED. Proverbs 27:18 GNT
Example of men that abide in honour Joseph, Daniel Shedrack, Meshach and Abednego Esther, Mordecai