Honor God Everywhere
Honoring God in Every Area of Life: A Call to Live with Purpose
Have you ever found yourself compartmentalizing your life—acting one way at church and another way at work or on vacation? Many of us struggle with this division between what we consider sacred and secular spaces in our lives. But what if there's a better way to live?
What Does Honor Really Mean?
Honor means worth, weight, and value. When we honor someone or something, we're recognizing its significance and treating it with respect. Dishonor, on the other hand, means treating something as common or ordinary.
The truth is, honor begins not in grand gestures but in small, everyday actions. And we always have a choice in how we respond to people and situations around us.
As Dr. Seuss wisely put it: "You have brains in your head and you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
This simple children's quote carries profound truth—we have the ability to choose honor in every situation.
Is There Really a Difference Between Sacred and Secular?
Many of us try to separate our lives into compartments:
But Scripture teaches us that there is no distinction between sacred and secular in a believer's life. Everything is sacred and to be done unto the Lord. How we handle every aspect of our lives matters deeply to God.
Three Places We Can Honor God
1. In Our Workplace
Genesis tells us that God created everything and called it good. He then gave humans dominion over creation to cultivate and protect it. As image-bearers of God (Imago Dei), we are co-creators with Him.
Billy Graham once said, "The next great awakening in America (and the world) is through the workplace." This is profound when we consider that of the 40 miracles recorded in the book of Acts, 39 happened in the workplace!
1 Corinthians 7:17 reminds us: "Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them."
The words "assigned" and "called" come from the Greek word "voca," from which we get "vocation." Your current job isn't just employment—it's your calling and platform to live out your faith.
2. In Our Homes and Church Community
Acts 2 describes how early believers met both in the temple and in homes, breaking bread together with gladness. They understood the importance of both corporate worship and intimate fellowship.
Hebrews 10 urges us not to forsake meeting together but to encourage one another—especially as we see the Day approaching. The New Testament is filled with "one another" commands:
The church's foundation is built on this posture of honor—giving of ourselves even when it's inconvenient.
3. In Our Leisure and Vacation
Genesis 2 shows that God established rest when He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The word "leisure" comes from a Latin word denoting "an interior state of reflection and contemplation combined with external quietness."
God didn't need rest—we do. He established Sabbath so our bodies, minds, and souls could be restored.
Colossians 3:17 reminds us: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Even on vacation, we're called to honor God and be ready to give a reason for the hope within us (1 Peter 3). This raises an important question: Do people even recognize the hope within us during our leisure time? Does our vacation behavior reflect Christ?
The Identity Trap
The difficulty in honoring God in all places is that we often let the places we go define who we are. We identify ourselves and others by vocation or status rather than by our identity in Christ.
When Jesus was baptized, God the Father declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This happened before Jesus performed any public miracles or ministry. Jesus operated FROM approval, not FOR approval.
Many of us do the opposite—we go to work, church, and vacation seeking approval to feel significant. But God has already established our identity as His beloved children.
Life Application
The freedom Christ offers isn't just spiritual theory—it's meant to be lived out daily.
Galatians 5:1 tells us: "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
This week, I challenge you to:
Ask yourself:
Remember, we have a choice in how we live. As Dr. Seuss reminds us, we can steer ourselves in any direction we choose. Choose to honor God in every area of your life, and watch how He transforms not just your perspective, but your impact on the world around you.
Have you ever found yourself compartmentalizing your life—acting one way at church and another way at work or on vacation? Many of us struggle with this division between what we consider sacred and secular spaces in our lives. But what if there's a better way to live?
What Does Honor Really Mean?
Honor means worth, weight, and value. When we honor someone or something, we're recognizing its significance and treating it with respect. Dishonor, on the other hand, means treating something as common or ordinary.
The truth is, honor begins not in grand gestures but in small, everyday actions. And we always have a choice in how we respond to people and situations around us.
As Dr. Seuss wisely put it: "You have brains in your head and you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
This simple children's quote carries profound truth—we have the ability to choose honor in every situation.
Is There Really a Difference Between Sacred and Secular?
Many of us try to separate our lives into compartments:
- Church life (where we honor God)
- Work life (where we focus on tasks)
- Home life (where we relax)
- Vacation life (where we indulge)
But Scripture teaches us that there is no distinction between sacred and secular in a believer's life. Everything is sacred and to be done unto the Lord. How we handle every aspect of our lives matters deeply to God.
Three Places We Can Honor God
1. In Our Workplace
Genesis tells us that God created everything and called it good. He then gave humans dominion over creation to cultivate and protect it. As image-bearers of God (Imago Dei), we are co-creators with Him.
Billy Graham once said, "The next great awakening in America (and the world) is through the workplace." This is profound when we consider that of the 40 miracles recorded in the book of Acts, 39 happened in the workplace!
1 Corinthians 7:17 reminds us: "Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them."
The words "assigned" and "called" come from the Greek word "voca," from which we get "vocation." Your current job isn't just employment—it's your calling and platform to live out your faith.
2. In Our Homes and Church Community
Acts 2 describes how early believers met both in the temple and in homes, breaking bread together with gladness. They understood the importance of both corporate worship and intimate fellowship.
Hebrews 10 urges us not to forsake meeting together but to encourage one another—especially as we see the Day approaching. The New Testament is filled with "one another" commands:
- Bear with one another
- Admonish one another
- Serve one another humbly in love
- Offer hospitality to one another
- Be devoted to one another in love
- Honor one another above yourself
The church's foundation is built on this posture of honor—giving of ourselves even when it's inconvenient.
3. In Our Leisure and Vacation
Genesis 2 shows that God established rest when He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The word "leisure" comes from a Latin word denoting "an interior state of reflection and contemplation combined with external quietness."
God didn't need rest—we do. He established Sabbath so our bodies, minds, and souls could be restored.
Colossians 3:17 reminds us: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Even on vacation, we're called to honor God and be ready to give a reason for the hope within us (1 Peter 3). This raises an important question: Do people even recognize the hope within us during our leisure time? Does our vacation behavior reflect Christ?
The Identity Trap
The difficulty in honoring God in all places is that we often let the places we go define who we are. We identify ourselves and others by vocation or status rather than by our identity in Christ.
When Jesus was baptized, God the Father declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This happened before Jesus performed any public miracles or ministry. Jesus operated FROM approval, not FOR approval.
Many of us do the opposite—we go to work, church, and vacation seeking approval to feel significant. But God has already established our identity as His beloved children.
Life Application
The freedom Christ offers isn't just spiritual theory—it's meant to be lived out daily.
Galatians 5:1 tells us: "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
This week, I challenge you to:
- Identify your compartments: Where have you been treating some areas of life as "secular" and others as "sacred"?
- Practice intentional honor: Choose one person each day to honor in a specific, thoughtful way. Write it down and reflect on how it changes your perspective.
- Live from approval, not for it: Start each day by reminding yourself of your identity in Christ. You are already loved, already approved, already significant.
- Honor God in unexpected places: How can you bring honor to God in the most mundane parts of your day—your commute, your lunch break, your evening routine?
Ask yourself:
- Am I operating from God's approval or striving for others' approval?
- How would my workplace, home, and leisure activities look different if I truly believed everything was sacred?
- In what specific ways can I honor God and others this week that I haven't before?
Remember, we have a choice in how we live. As Dr. Seuss reminds us, we can steer ourselves in any direction we choose. Choose to honor God in every area of your life, and watch how He transforms not just your perspective, but your impact on the world around you.
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