The Platforms of Honour in Christianity

Honour is one of the essential parts of Christianity; to be honouring means to show high respect, esteem, and reverence. It is a posture of the heart and our resposibility as children of God to grow and develop in honour.

A lack of honour is a sign of a prideful heart, while true honour requires humility. As we grow in Christ, we must grow in meekness.

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of order, and throughout our lives God places different forms of authority around us. As believers mature spiritually, we must also grow in our ability to recognize and honour those in positions of authority in a way that pleases the Lord.

There are several important platforms of honour every Christian should develop.

1. Honour God

God desires not only to be loved and feared, but also to be honoured. When true honour for God is established in the heart of a believer, it produces a deeper reverence for Him and a greater willingness to submit to His Word, His ways, and the principles of Christianity.

He is the highest authority, and every other form of biblical honour must flow from our reverence for Him. We honour God through worship, obedience, respect for His Word, and by giving Him the highest place in our lives.

All honour begins with God.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

— 1 Timothy 1:17

2. Honour Your Parents

One of the first places we learn honour is within the family.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

— Exodus 20:12

Honouring our parents does not mean they are perfect or that we must agree with everything they do. It means recognizing the position God has given them and maintaining a heart of respect.

Learning honour in the home develops humility and prepares us to respond properly to authority in other areas of life.

3. Honour Your Boss

The workplace is another important platform of honour.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh… in singleness of heart, fearing God.”

— Colossians 3:22

Christians should strive to be respectful, teachable, dependable, and cooperative toward those placed over them at work.

Constant arguing, gossiping about leadership, or participating in conversations that continually tear down a boss demonstrate a lack of honour.

Scripture says:

“Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour.” — 1 Timothy 6:1

Even when leadership is difficult, believers are called to maintain Christian character.

Honour does not mean pretending poor leadership is good leadership. It means refusing to allow another person’s behaviour to produce pride, rebellion, or disrespect within us.

Before God gives us greater responsibility, He will often examine how faithfully we conduct ourselves while under authority.

4. Honour for Pastors

Pastors and spiritual leaders carry a responsibility to teach, guide, correct, and care for God’s people.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls.”

— Hebrews 13:17

Scripture also says:

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

— 1 Timothy 5:17

Honouring spiritual leadership means recognizing the responsibility of their office rather than treating it casually.

This honour can be expressed through respectful speech, attentiveness to teaching, receiving biblical correction with humility, prayer, gratitude, and support for the work of ministry.

Throughout Scripture, men and women who accomplished great things for God first learned how to honour those placed over them.

5. Honour the Leaders of Nations

Christians are also instructed to show respect toward governing authorities.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” — Romans 13:1

Honour does not require us to agree with every decision or policy made by political leaders. We can disagree while still maintaining dignity and Christian character.

Romans 13:7 teaches:

“If respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.”

Rather than allowing our speech to become filled with contempt, believers should pray for those in authority and ask God to give them wisdom, sound counsel, and righteous judgment.

6. Honour the House of God

The house of God should never become ordinary in the heart of the believer.

“Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” — Psalm 26:8

Church is a place dedicated to worship, prayer, the preaching of God’s Word, fellowship, and the presence of God.

Because of this, our behaviour in God’s house should reflect reverence.

“That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God.”

— 1 Timothy 3:15

How we speak, listen, worship, respond to teaching, and treat others should demonstrate that we understand the significance of where we are.

Honour for God’s house is ultimately an extension of our honour for God Himself.

Developing a Heart of Honour

True honour begins within.

A person may appear respectful outwardly while still carrying pride or contempt inwardly. God is concerned with both our actions and the condition of our hearts.

“In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

— Philippians 2:3

Honour teaches us humility. It teaches us that we do not always need the final word, that we do not need to compete with authority, and that familiarity should never cause us to lose reverence.

As believers, we should regularly examine ourselves:

Do I honour God through obedience?

Do I honour my parents?

Do I honour those placed over me at work?

Do I honour spiritual leadership?

Do I speak respectfully about governing authorities?

Do I reverence the house of God?

Honour is part of Christian maturity.

May God remove pride and dishonour from our hearts and teach us to walk in humility, reverence, respect, and true biblical honour.