Honor

A man who is in honor, yet does not understand is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20

People with great wealth are often highly honored by others. Buildings, parks and other places are often named after the person, because of one’s great financial contributions. Others will give them special seats at meetings or events. Everyone will talk highly of the person, even if they have never physically met or had something done for them. The world looks at their wealth and thinks that they are something great, while rarely looking at what their real character is like and what they truly understand.

The writer of this psalm is describing the wealthy. Here he points out that the man who is in honor, but does not have any understanding, is no different than the beasts of the field that will perish.

Having great wealth appears to be a great honor to the world. Wealth makes the person look like one has finally made it and really knows what is good and great. Wealth and having things is the focus and purpose of many in this world.

Although being wealthy can allow a person to do a lot of different things, both good and bad, it is not everything. If one does not have a good understanding of life, all that wealth is absolutely worthless and will fail in the end. It cannot save a person’s soul or redeem one back from the judgement of death due to sin.

Instead of believing in wealth and self, believers are to have a full understanding and put their trust in God. It is God who removes sin and saves and gives eternal life. It is God who gives true purpose in this life. Without that understanding, a person is no different than the animals and will perish in the end without hope or true life.

Whether you have great wealth and honor or not has nothing of true value in your life, if you do not have the proper understanding of life on this planet. Everything on this earth is temporary and will fail in the end.

Put all of your trust in God, not the temporary things of this fallen world. It is Jesus who will save your soul and give you eternal life, not honor or wealth. Focus on doing God’s will and building His kingdom is true understanding that gives true life. Don’t perish due to lacking understanding.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will understand what God has done for you; that you will understand your need for God; and that you will understand what God’s purpose is for your life.

Picture by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplash

The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:7

In places of extreme high honor, people are expected to act with good honor and respect. When a person is meeting with a high-level dignitary, either in the government or a business, they are expected to dress and act in certain ways. It brings honor and respect to those whom it is due. Doing or saying anything out of place will often get them quickly removed and possibly more.

As the ark of the covenant was brought back to Israel, Uzzah touched it, a forbidden act. God became angry and struck him down for that irreverent act.

During the Old Testament times, the ark of the covenant was the place of God’s dwelling among the people. Since Jesus came the place of God’s dwelling has changed. It is no longer with the ark of the covenant, but in the hearts and lives of people.

Sins of a person are taken away so that he can be holy and set apart for God and be a place for God to dwell within. God has made a new covenant with each person and written His laws upon their hearts just as the ten commandments were placed in the ark of the covenant.

Although believers are now to be holy and treated as such, many will treat it with irreverent acts. They mar and harm the body in ways that disrespects what God has done in their lives.

Not only is this the case for their physical bodies, but it is also the same with the body of Christ, the church. There is disrespect for leaders in the church. Believers are to treat all things of God with respect and not as the world does.

God has placed Himself and His things in your life and all around you. As a believer, you are now the dwelling place for God. You must be willing to treat yourself and those things and people He has placed in your life with reverence.

Do not allow yourself to be like the world and treat your life and others with disrespect and irreverent acts. Although God may not strike you down dead, He may lift His hand of favor off of your life with these acts.

Live holy as God is holy.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God has placed in your life that is His; that you will know God is dwelling inside of you; and that you will treat the things of God with respect and honor.