THE ONE ABOUT HONOR
If “honoring husbands” was a person, my friend, let’s call her Fulgencia would be it. This girl, working class, high-heeled shoes, corner office, speaks American English in front of her clients and rukiglish (Rukiga-English) when she’s with me- is a very good wife. She wakes early to prepare her husband’s favorite breakfast, gives his laundry a personal touch and all that stuff that is taught in Mother’s Union. Every time we are together or are in a group of people, she beautifully affirms him to everyone that is willing to hear. In a nutshell, she fulfills the portion in 1Peter 3:5–6 that says; For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
We recently went through a series on honor at our church and it hit me that honor is actually an act of faith. Sometimes we block our blessings by simply refusing to honor the people that God has put in our lives. Did you know for example that when the bible teaches us to honor parents, they don’t mean just the good parents? Even the bad ones- the ones that told you how you would amount to nothing. The ones that abandoned you as a toddler- Yes! Did you also know that from today you could change the course of your life by simply honoring your wife, husband, boss, spiritual parents and most importantly your biological parents?
Remember the story of Ruth? In summary, these two ladies; Ruth and Orpah are living with their mother-in- law, Naomi, after the death of their husbands. As they are hanging out, she encourages them to return to their parents’ houses since she cannot give birth to other sons that would be their husbands. So she blesses and kisses them and they weep together and all. So Orpah leaves but Ruth clings to Naomi and tells her that she would not leave but follow her and that’s where the portion that everyone reads on their wedding day comes from; Ruth 1:16- But Ruth said: “Entreat[e] me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. No amount of convincing by Naomi is going to make her change her mind. And I am sure all of us know what happened when she follows Naomi. Not only does she meet the love of her life, the wealthy Boaz, but she gets to be in the genealogy of our loving and precious Savior Jesus Christ.
In case you’re wondering, honoring is not just done by texting “I honor you” or only by kneeling to greet. It is 99% done with giving something tangible. This means something in monetary terms- gold, cash and the like.
So, go right ahead; send that mobile money to those whom honor is due and watch yourself laugh in a benz.