What does it mean to honor God?
Honoring God means giving Him the reverence, respect, and glory that He deserves as our Creator and Lord. It involves both our attitudes and actions. Scripture gives us many principles and examples of what it means to truly honor the Lord.
We Honor God by Putting Him First
One of the most fundamental ways we can honor God is by making Him our top priority in life. He alone is worthy of our fullest devotion, love, and service. As Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” God desires to have preeminence in our lives. When He truly has first place in our hearts, it will be evidenced by the way we live.
Psalm 29:2 says, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” We honor God by ascribing to Him the supreme glory, majesty, and sovereignty that is due to Him alone. There is no one like our God. He reigns supreme over all.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” As we seek God first and foremost in our lives, making His kingdom our priority, He promises to provide for and bless us. Putting God first brings honor to Him as well as benefits in our own lives. As Creator, He alone is worthy of our highest allegiance.
We Honor God with Our Actions and Obedience
Honoring God is much more than just an attitude of reverence. It’s also demonstrated through our actions and wholehearted obedience to His Word. We honor God by obeying His commandments, following His principles for holy living, and carefully avoiding sin.
Deuteronomy 13:4 tells us, “It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” Following the Lord in full surrender and obedience brings Him great honor. It shows that He is truly Lord of our lives.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, God says “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” Outward religious rituals and practices do not honor God as much as an obedient heart and lifestyle. Through obedience, we demonstrate the sincerity of our love and reverence for Him.
In John 14:21, Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Obeying God’s Word is direct evidence of our love for Him. It brings delight to His heart when His children follow His ways.
We Honor God with Our Words and Praise
Our words and attitude of praise are important ways we can bring glory to God and honor His name. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Praising God, extoling His greatness, and speaking well of Him to others is a way we can actively honor Him every day. Our words carry weight and have the power to bless or curse. When we use our words to honor the Lord, it reflects the reverence for Him in our hearts.
Several other verses describe how we can honor God with our words and praise:
Psalm 96:4 – “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.”
Psalm 145:5 – “They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
Psalm 150:2 – “Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.”
Hebrews 13:15 – “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
Revelation 5:13 – “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
When we make praise a regular practice, we honor God by acknowledging His supreme glory and might. Our words have power when used to glorify the name of the Lord.
Honoring God with Reverent Worship
One of the primary ways we honor God is through reverent worship, both privately in our hearts and publicly when the church assembles. The Psalms describe worshiping the Lord with reverent awe and wonder. We honor Him best when our worship flows from a heart of deep love, gratitude, and humility.
Psalm 95:6-7 – “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”
Psalm 96:9 – “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”
John 4:23 – “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
Philippians 3:3 – “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
When our worship honors God, it flows from the Spirit and truth in our hearts. Our motive shouldn’t be to impress others or follow religious rituals, but to sincerely lift up Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and praise.
Honoring God with Our Resources and Offerings
Another practical way we honor God is by generously giving back a portion of the resources He has given us. This includes the giving of our time, talents, and finances. When we utilize all we have for God’s glory and advancement of His kingdom – rather than just our own interests – we show reverence for Him as the ultimate provider and owner of everything.
Malachi 3:8-10 – “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings…Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”
2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
1 Chronicles 29:14 – “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
When we honor God through generous giving, He promises to bless us in return. Our offerings should flow from a cheerful heart, not external pressure or duty. We can’t out-give God!
Honoring God in Thought, Deed, and Lifestyle
In both public and private, our lives bring either glory or dishonor to our Lord. Believers are called to consistently honor God with our thoughts, deeds, and very lifestyles. What we set our minds on (Colossians 3:2), how we treat others (Romans 12:10), and the way we conduct ourselves in general either lifts up or dishonors the name of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 – “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
We honor God when we represent Him well through righteous, holy living that aligns with Biblical principles. This includes stewarding our bodies, time, gifts and talents, relationships, and resources all for His purposes and glory.
Honoring God as a Community and Nation
While honoring God certainly involves personal attitudes and actions, it’s not just limited to individuals. God also calls churches and even entire nations to honor and revere Him publicly.
In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged the people, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” He called them to make a public commitment to honor and obey God as a community.
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” When a nation collectively honors the Lord and submits to His righteous laws, it results in great blessing. On the other hand, Proverbs 14:34 warns, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”
1 Peter 2:17 says, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” As Christians, we are to honor both God and human authority figures He has placed over us, such as governing officials. When we honor God, it often results in unity, peace, and harmony in our relationships and community.
The Church’s Highest Purpose is to Honor God
Above all else, the ultimate purpose of Christ’s Church is to bring glory to God. This supersedes programs, ministries, denominational traditions, or anything else. Jesus accomplished our salvation so that we “might live for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12).
Everything the Church is and does should be focused on honoring God’s name and proclaiming His glory to all nations. Our worship services, outreaches, community service, and individual lives as believers should point people to the magnificence and beauty of our Lord. He alone is worthy of all honor, praise, and glory.
Romans 11:36 – “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:21 – “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
As the Church lifts up the name of Jesus Christ, honoring Him as Lord of all, we fulfill our highest purpose and mission. Bringing glory and honor to our God should be the ultimate aim of every believer.