True honor

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

TRUE HONOR

Prov 26:1

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

NIV

It would seem that snow in the summer would have to be a miracle, but rain in harvest is not so miraculous, yet it would seem that God certainly blessed the people of Israel as in the harvest and on the thrashing floor, which was outside, rain was not a very common event. Neither the snow nor the rain in their off season are very common or welcome for that matter. So it is with someone who is foolish not being welcomed in a place of honor. This could apply to bad or foolish people being in places of honor in the church and the state. It would seem appropriate to determine what is meant by a fool; as not just this saying but several that follow speak of the fool. The Greek work carries the meaning of fat, or figuratively to be stupid or silly, or arrogant. The idea is this person is insolent regarding religion or stupid and dull in wise living, which would be living out the religion they profess. There is only one place of true honor. Although we might think certain places among men have honor as well. We lift up some positions in this life as places of honor, such as the President of the United States or some others who occupy high offices in government as well as those who fulfill high offices in the church. But the true place of honor is being called, by God, his children.

John 1:10-13

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

NIV

What greater honor can be bestowed on a person than to be called a child of God and so be labeled by the will of God? So then the fool is the one who does not recognize him. As well as the fool could also be someone who claims to be a Christian but has no true sense of what that entails. The only way to the place of honor is to receive Jesus, to believe in his name. All the knowledge about God, all the information about scripture, any amount of works or religious effort makes no way to be called a child of God. The one act or work or good deed which gives us the right to be called a child of God is in receiving Jesus, believing in his name, trusting in him, not just for salvation by for our daily bread. This daily bread is seen both as the bread of necessity, that which we need to sustain life in the physical and the bread of life, Jesus, who gives us a daily portion of himself so we can sustain spiritual life everlasting. The foolish attempt to live this life relying on self instead Jesus. The foolish also may rely on their works, their religious efforts to find that place of honor. That might bring them honor among men, but may not bring them to the place of true honor. It is not that we should not serve God. He calls all his children to some place in the body of Christ for service. He also calls all his children to be his representation to the world. That is not done through good works but through demonstrating the love of God. True that demonstration of his love may include doing some works, but think of what works of his love for us were. Jesus came to earth and died on a cross for us. He laid his life down for us. But he has told us that exactly what kind of work is the work of God.

John 6:29

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 

NIV

It is back to faith, to believe in Jesus, that is the best good and perhaps the only good work we can ever do. However, if we want to see this good work as something to do in this life, then we are to be like Jesus, we must lay our life down for others. That may not be actually being put to death in the physical but it could mean in the spiritual. That might look like putting the desires of others before any of ours. But we must always remember the true place of honor is in being called his child. So let us live out our faith, our belief in Jesus throughout our day, our life so that we will not be the foolish, who trust in flesh, but the wise and honored child of God.