Young People's Group

Honouring Those to Whom Honour is Due

by Mitchell Tan
February 24, 2017

HONOURING THOSE WHO ARE OF THE CHURCH FAMILY

“Honour” … this is an important word for all young people to learn and practise. Many of us may not know how to give honour to those to whom honour is due. The importance of respecting and valuing those in the Church community was specially taught by Paul to young Timothy.

“Do not rebuke an older men, but exhort him as a father”
1 Timothy 5:1

Proper regard must be given to those who are older than us. We are not meant to rebuke them in any way but to exhort them as spiritual fathers and mothers. They should always be regarded as part of the Church family and to be honoured at all times.

HONOURING THOSE WHO ARE WIDOWS IN NEED

“Honour widows who are really widows.”
1 Timothy 5:3

1. BEING TAKEN CARE OF FIRST BY FAMILY MEMBERS

Family members are meant to show filial piety to their parents and grand-parents by first taking care of them in their time of need. If they do not know how to do this, they would be deemed as having set aside their faith and are considered worse than a non-believer (1 Timothy 5:8). Young people, let’s learn to honour our parents and grandparents by learning to be concerned for them and to even take care of them if need be in the future (1 Timothy 5:16).

2. DISCERNING THOSE WHO ARE REALLY WIDOWS AND HELPING THEM

When it came to helping widows, the Church had to discern whether these were truly in need. On the one hand, Paul had a set of criteria offered before a Church supports a widow (1 Timothy 5:9-10). On the other hand, he also wrote to refuse those widows who had cast off their first faith, walked in sin and have desired to marry those who were non-believers (1 Timothy 5:11-13). It is important that we exercise discernment even as we learn to honour and help the elderly in need.

GIVING DOUBLE HONOUR TO WORTHY ELDERS

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scriptures says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages.’”
1 Timothy 5:17

1. HONOUR EXPRESSED IN THE WAY WE REGARD AND REWARD FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD

The word “elder” in Greek is the word “Presbuteros”. It is a reference to a mature servant of God who has served the Lord faithfully. It is from this Greek word that we derive the name of our denomination “Presbyterian” which means “to rule by elders”. The elder who has served the Lord well is deserving of double honour, especially for those who work hard in the word and doctrine.

2. BASIS OF HONOURING ELDERS – THE SCRIPTURES

Muzzling an ox will prevent the animal from eating while it worked. This verse was quoted by Paul from Deuteronomy 25:4. It teaches us of how respect should be given to animals as they labour hard. Even more so, a servant of God who serves Him faithfully should be honoured. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus taught of how the labourer who works hard is worthy of his salary (Matthew 10:10). Another way to honour God’s servants is through providing for them financially. Young people, let’s learn to give double honour to the Lord’s servants who serve Him well.

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