(James 2:2-3,9) “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here is a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
As human beings, we are often tempted to rate people based on their outward appearance, their clothes, shoes, speech, or social status, but this is displeasing to God. Through James, He makes it clear that such an attitude is unacceptable among believers. James 2:1 says “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” In fact, God compares a believer who shows favoritism to a judge with evil motives.” (James 2:4).
God’s Greatest Commandments
It is always best to honor all men because we do not always perceive a person’s true worth at first glance. Honor unlocks blessings, and dishonor can shut the doors of destiny. Honoring all men is a direct fulfillment of the law that commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8). This command falls under the two greatest commandments given by God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Beyond honoring our community leaders and spiritual authorities, who, as Scripture says, are worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17), God expects us to honor all men, from the least to the greatest. True honor is revealed not in how we treat the powerful but in how we regard those often overlooked by society. At times, the people who appear the most humble or insignificant may have direct access to the very individuals you have been striving to meet for months. It is heartbreaking that many people have unknowingly shut the very doors that God opened for them simply because they failed to honor others. Sometimes, all it takes is one negative remark from someone you have dishonored, and just like that, an opportunity is lost. On the other hand, some have walked into divine openings simply because they showed honor.
Even if you struggle to find a reason to honor someone, remember that they bear the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). That alone is reason enough. Imagine if, whenever you saw another person, regardless of how “wagadised” (unkempt) they may look, you recognized in them a reflection of the King of Glory. If you could consciously see Jesus Christ in every man, you would cultivate a lifestyle of perpetual honor.
From the cleaner to the gatekeeper, from the chef to the personal assistant, all the way up to the boss himself, every individual is worthy of honor.
Familiarity Can Lead to Dishonor: Guard Your Honor Meter
If you need to create some distance from certain people to guard your “honor meter,” as my husband calls it, then by all means, do so for your own sake. If being too familiar with someone causes you to lose the ability to receive from them, it is wiser to step back than to let over familiarity rob you of your blessing.
Many people are receiving grace, wisdom, and impartation from the very individuals you may have grown too casual with to your own detriment. Do not let familiarity blind you to the value that others still recognize. Honor keeps your heart positioned to receive, while dishonor shuts doors that God has opened for your good.
Even Jesus, the Son of God, could do no mighty work among His own people because they failed to honor Him. Their familiarity with Him became their downfall. He said “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4-5).
Teaching Honor to Children
When we teach and demonstrate honor to children, they in turn grow up to be honorable men and women who understand how to extend honor to others. A child who grows up watching their parents treat others with dignity, whether it be domestic staff, subordinates, or strangers, will naturally adopt the same posture.
When your children see how you treat your maid or household help with honor, they are likely to treat them the same way. Many times, when I have corrected my son about how he addressed our help, I had his own well-being in mind, not just the protection of her dignity. This is because I know that if he does not learn to treat her right, he will struggle to treat others with respect and dignity.
Cultivating Honor
Parents, it is far more effective to show your children what honor looks like than to merely tell them. Long before they fully comprehend the Scriptures, they will observe your example. For instance, I made it a habit to encourage my son to greet everyone we passed whenever we walked on our street. When we went shopping, I taught him to acknowledge the cleaners and store attendants, saying, “Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, ma.” The joy on people’s faces when they see such a polite little child is indescribable. Their frowns quickly turn into smiles simply because they felt respected. I have seen police officers, who typically wear stern expressions, light up after receiving a simple greeting. In some cases, they have even given people a pass in situations where they could have penalized them, all because they felt honored.
Honor is a Hallmark of Christianity
One of the defining marks of a true Christian is the posture of honor. It is an overflow of our love for others. We are not called to honor only those who honor us; rather, we are to extend honor even to those who dishonor us. 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
At the end of the day, honor is not just about how we treat others, it is about the kind of people we are becoming. It is about cultivating a heart that sees the image of God in every person, regardless of their status, appearance, or influence.
A life of honor opens doors, nurtures relationships, and brings favor in unexpected places. But beyond all that, it reflects the very heart of Christ. If we truly desire to live as He did, then honoring all men, both great and small, is not an option. It is a way of life.
