Simplifying The Complicated, part five - Honour Everyone

Keep it simple. That is the overwhelming thing I hear the Spirit speaking in this age of confusion and complication. This is my fifth blog entry on this subject. We have considered the simplicity of loving God, loving ourselves and loving our neighbour. These are the three biggies and are covered in what Jesus called the greatest of the commandments. Today I want us to consider the instruction to honour everyone. Let's start with 1 Peter 2:17 :

"Honour everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respectful fear of God. Honour the emperor." CEB

Let's focus on the "honour everyone" using the TPT translation but let's start with the lead up:

"As God's loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Recognize the value of every person."

Some Christians struggle with the idea of honouring people not deserving honour so the TPT translation may help some people uncomplicate the issue : treat every person as valuable to Father. 

We have been called to a place that is above differences, above grievances, above insult or injury. What do you think Jesus was talking about when he said to love your enemy? He has called us up to a place where we have been given the capacity to love with the same love that we have been loved with and he has called this an obligation. His love has indebted us to love other people in the same manner he loved us. Isn't that amazing? Isn't that uncomplicated?

When we honour someone we are saying that we recognize they have value. No one said that you have to agree with that value because the value is not assigned by you. You are simply told to recognize the value Father has placed on that person. What you recognize as valuable you will treat well, or you should. That's the whole point. We complicate it when we think we can show value without treating people well.

I show value by giving people my time, by choosing words that do not insult but instead lift up. I show value by taking actions of love and kindness which have nothing to do with what the person deserves because I received Father's best when I did not deserve it. I demonstrate value with my words, tone, actions, attitude and investment.

I complicate this matter of honour when I try to base that honour on my own ideas and ideals. Honour is based on my Father's will and I act on it "as God's loving servant". I keep it simple when I keep everything based on my relationship with Father and not according to my ideas and values. He is my source. My desire is to live a life rooted and growing in Kingdom values.

Now imagine how this would change our approach. Instead of approaching people in an adversarial manner we would see the value of us being in their lives, perhaps even as their friends. Instead of seeing people as projects we would simply want to position ourselves so that Father could pour out his love and grace into their lives through our friendship with them. We could discuss the methodology of such a relationship but the challenge is to see that you are their for their benefit and not your own.

We complicate it when we keep thinking we are the most valuable person in the room. This causes us to be offended when people do something against us. Scripture tells us to act as if everyone else is more important than ourselves, not because we have no value, but because we should already understand our value to Father. There should be no insecurity. Where there is insecurity you will find people lifting themselves up above everyone else. Complicated. We are in that person's life, be them friend or be them foe, to demonstrate that they have value with Father.

The conclusion of the matter is that Father has not made this complicated. When we live according to his values, according to what he says is important, according to who he says to love, being taught and led by Spirit, it's simple. When we decide to be our own teacher and to live according to what we think are the values of Father, promoting ourselves above everyone else, taking offense, defending ourselves, pushing our agenda, honouring those we think deserve it, we very much complicate what Father designed to be simple.

 

When Life Seems Too Confusing ...

Are you a bit confused? Join the club. There are a lot of things in this world that don't make sense. A lot of contradictions. At times life can be very complicated because our hearts can be complicated. Never forget, there is a battle raging over you. Your heart is the object of that battle.

Life is as complicated as we allow it to become. It is all a matter of decisions. Some decisions that we need to make we don't want to make because it means closing certain doors we do not want to close. Yet, by not making those decisions we are making a decision, and that is very sad.

If anything in life we should be decisive. Make the decision and live with it. No regrets. Just live with the consequences of that decision. But what if it is the wrong decision? How can we be certain that it is the right decision? Seriously, what if, after making a decision we realize it is the wrong decision? My only advice in this is not to follow your heart, because often it is corrupted by a selfish nature. You need to follow our measuring rod, the only real guide we have in this life: Jesus.

Measure your choices and decisions against Jesus. Consider what he has taught us. Consider his example. Consider his purpose for us. Consider if our decision adds to his glory or takes away from it. Listen to the Spirit, understanding that the Spirit will never go against the Word of God.  Always be governed by Jesus' directive to love.

We get into trouble when we don't consider our decisions, we just react. Whatever we "feel" like doing we do. We allow our emotions, our loves and hates, likes and dislikes, pleasures and discomforts, to dictate our decisions. We filter perspectives with opinions and prejudices. Then, when things turn ugly, we are completely baffled by it.

Now, about that question: What if we do make wrong decisions because of our foolishness? Live with it. Seriously, we all mess up. We all occasionally get distracted and take our eyes off of Jesus. We all allow our emotions to get the better of us from time to time. We all make bad decisions. We shouldn't but we do. Living your life in regret will not benefit anyone. Say sorry. Ask for forgiveness. Repent. Do what you can to make amends in love and then have faith. Trust God.

Yes, even in our bad decisions God is sovereign. There is nothing wasted in the Kingdom. Our God is far greater than anything we can imagine and we are simply told, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". (Romans 8:28). This is found in the passage that explains that we are more than conquerors through Jesus. That means that we are overcomers. Through Jesus we overcome even our bad decisions by having faith that God turns everything to his advantage.

Grace is no excuse to sin. It is no excuse to sit back and put no effort into living for Jesus' glory. It is no excuse for reactive decision making in your life. Grace covers all things that fall through the cracks of our living for Jesus. This prevents regrets. It does not excuse an unrepentant heart but it does give us hope when we do repent.

This was not the blog I intended to write today. It was suppose to be part 2 of yesterday's blog but these are the words that evolved as my fingers flowed across the keyboard. It means these are the words you needed to read today. Take it to heart. Consider whether your life is governed by Jesus, whether every decision you make is weighed by his example. Consider that he has given you everything you need to live a life that glorifies him so make your decisions accordingly. I leave you with the words Peter was given to write, inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit:

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)