Honorable Living

The LORD hates cheating,but he delights in honesty.Pride leads to disgrace,but with humility comes wisdom.Good people are guided by their honesty;treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.

Proverbs 11:1-3

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher. He said, “It is not necessary that whilst I live I should live happily; but it is necessary that so long as I live I should live honorably.”

To live honorably. This is not a concept we hear much about in our society. Although on one hand that can be very discouraging, on the other hand, it gives us a great opportunity to live our lives in contrast. The apostle Paul wrote some incredible things when he was in a Roman jail. It is said he was chained to a Roman soldier every day. In Rome, life was very dog-eat-dog; immorality and power were more popular than integrity and virtue. It was in that atmosphere that Paul wrote these words in Philippians 2:14-16: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life”(NKJV).

So no matter where you work or live, God has set you there to shine. Honesty and humility truly shine bright in the dark world. And as Samuel Johnson said, “It is better to suffer wrong than to do it.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

You might not be chained to a Roman solider, but all of us have situations that we are “stuck with.” Are you the only Christian in your workplace? Are the conversations there so wrong they grieve your spirit? Live honorably! Go the extra mile, give grace, don’t get tangled in office politics. Honor the Lord.

Is your husband an unbeliever? Live honorably! Find ways to encourage and respect him. Never put him down with your friends at church. Share the gospel by your actions and love and thankfulness more than your words. Honor the Lord.

Are your in-laws hard to get along with? Live honorably! Don’t take things too personally. Pray a lot, and honor the Lord.

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 11:24–13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3