Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

The next group that the Bible says we ought to show honour to includes those who are in authority over us. Romans 13:1-7 explains that God, in His Sovereignty, has placed people in positions of leadership. In this context, verse 7 says that you should give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

(Notice that this verse makes a distinction between respect and honour again.)

One thing I have learnt over the years and I still learn today is how to respect and honour others even if I don’t agree with their lifestyle or the things they believe in. I learn to respect others from a very tender age, or my behind was subject to a trashing. Discipline was the principal of our growing up as children.

Regardless of how you hate the guts of the Judge when in their courtroom you have to stand in honour and respect. You don’t like the priest but when you hear the prelude in church you got to stand in honour and respect. That is something I learned from an early age. Today when the minister enters the church the worship leader has to ask the congregation to stand. I ask where are the respect and honour today?

You look at the State of the Union address by the President of the United States and everyone stands. Those that hate the guts of the man still stand because it is honouring the Office if not the man. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines when the National Anthem is being played or sung we stand in respect and honour. If ever you sit in the Parliament when the “Sergeant of Arms” announces “Mr Speaker” everyone stands to their feet and silence rings out in the room. Only the voice of the Sergeant of Arms and the movement of furniture and for the minimum time.

We’re supposed to show honour not only to powerful people in government but to all of those who are in authority over us. You have to honour your Leaders to whom God has placed over you. If you play sports, show honour to your coach. If you’re a student, honour your teachers. If you have a mentor, show them honour. Honour your boss. Even if you believe deep down that you’re smarter than your boss, you still need to show that person honour. Maybe you’d like to be the boss someday. Before you can learn to be over, you have to learn to be under. Practice being under by showing honour to those people whom God has put over you.

If you’re a married woman, but you don’t particularly like your husband — maybe he’s not the leader that you want him to be — honour him. If you treat him as ordinary and common, he won’t feel empowered to lead your family. But if you honour him, give him the opportunity to rise to the occasion, to become honourable. Treat him like he’s the man you want him to be; with grace and honour, help him envision himself as a better man.

The way you treat your husband will determine how your children treat their spouses. Make no bones about it the seeds we sow today our children will reap even unto the third and fourth generations.