Peter's Pen 1 Peter 2:17

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.   (1Pe 2:17)

Honor?

This is a busy word.  We find it 55 times in the NT.  It is applied to much, from “God”  to “everyone.”

So we may rightly struggle with its meaning.  Fundamentally it means to value, esteem.

I consider it to be a word whose meaning and import is define by what it is applied to.  Much like the word lust.

Certainly, we must see that there is a difference in the value and esteem we place upon God and that which we place upon everyone.

But I think the Holy Spirit is clear here in this verse that we are to honor everyone – even the emperor - yet we are to fear God.  This is a value/esteem far beyond mere honor.  This gives an edge to it.

Notice the distinction:

HONOR – everyone and the emperor
LOVE- fellow believers
FEAR-God

Note also:
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.   (Rom 13:7)

What we need to do is to pray and work through to whom what is due.  This is not something we regularly (if at all) submit to prayer, the Word or our minds and hearts.  We can’t just read it and assume we will do it – at least not well.

I think that praying over the question, “What is due to who?” is a very important topic for much prayer.  Living in an age where “celebrity” is much more meaningful than it merits it is easy to find our attention and praise directed wrongly and even over energized.  When uneducated “celebrities” (especially unbelieving ones) at paid attention to and their opinions and views are given force just because of their celebrity – Houston, we have a problem!

I encourage you – even challenge you to look closely at those whom you honor – especially why and how you do so.  Pray – please!
I am reminded of that song, We Don’t Need Another Hero.  We never have needed a “hero” and perhaps we are wrong in looking at anyone as a “Hero.”  Certainly people do things we can consider heroic but once it’s done they are once again just people.
What we need, we have, a Redeemer.  He wasn’t a “hero.”  He did nothing out of character, nothing extra ordinary for Him – He simply did what He intended to do since forever.  There is nothing special about the Redeemer redeeming or the Savior saving.  Seeing him as a “hero” somehow diminishes that.
OK – back on point –
Honor, love and fear.  Pray about this verse and it’s meaning and demonstration in your life.  Are they in order?  Properly and biblically applied?