Honorable

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 2 Corinthians 8; Psalm 26

20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. (2 Corinthians 8:20–21 NLT)

Paul was gathering a team of reputable men to travel to Jerusalem with the generous gift the churches were sending to the suffering Christians there. He had representatives from the contributing churches and men who were held in high esteem by the churches throughout the region. He was being careful to be honorable before the Lord!

At my church (as with most churches I know), when the weekly offerings are received and processed, the church is always careful to have a team of people handling every aspect of the collecting, the counting, and the accounting!

We are accountable to God for our personal stewardship of life, talents, relationships, and resources. We, like Paul and his team, are careful to be honorable before the Lord in all we do. And we, like Paul, also want to be known by those around us as honorable. It takes a little, or sometimes a lot, of extra effort to show that we’re honorable. I think it’s worth it!

Here are two prayers of David from the Psalms that are my prayers too:

  • 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:12–14 NLT)
  • 5 O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. 6 Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. (Psalm 69:5–6 NLT)

Prayer:

Father, Please help me and my friends to be sensitive and aware of how we do the things we do. We not only want to be honorable before you, we want to be seen to be honorable before others. For Jesus’ Sake, Amen.