Honor God
Honoring God is the key to receiving true honor and blessings from Him.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of making the honor of God the primary focus of our lives, asserting that those who honor God will ultimately receive His honor in return. He reflects on the consequences faced by Eli and his sons for failing to honor the Lord, illustrating that true dignity and glory come from holy obedience rather than worldly recognition. Spurgeon encourages believers to actively seek ways to honor God through their actions, words, and offerings, reminding them that even if they face shame in the world, God's honor is far more valuable. He challenges listeners to consider practical steps they can take to promote God's glory in their daily lives.
Text
Them that honor me I mill honor. (1 Samuel 2:30)
Do I make the honor of God the great object of my life and the rule of my conduct? If so, He will honor me. I may for a while receive no honor from man, but God will Himself put honor upon me in the most effectual manner. In the end it will be found the surest way to honor to be willing to be put to shame for conscience' sake.
Eli had not honored the Lord by ruling his household well, and his sons had not honored the Lord by behavior worthy of their sacred office, and therefore the Lord did not honor them but took the high priesthood out of their family and made young Samuel to be ruler in the land instead of any of their tine. If I would have my family ennobled, I must honor the Lord in all things. God may allow the wicked to win worldly honors; but the dignity which He Himself gives, even glory, honor, and immortality, He reserves for those who by holy obedience take care to honor Him.
What can I do this day to honor the Lord? I will promote His glory by my spoken testimony and by my practical obedience, I will also honor Him with my substance and by offering to Him some special service. Let me sit down and think how I can honor Him, since He will honor me.
Sermon Outline
- The Promise of Honor
- God honors those who honor Him
- Example of Eli's failure to honor God
- Consequences of not honoring God
Key Quotes
“Them that honor me I will honor.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“In the end it will be found the surest way to honor to be willing to be put to shame for conscience' sake.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“God may allow the wicked to win worldly honors; but the dignity which He Himself gives, even glory, honor, and immortality, He reserves for those who by holy obedience take care to honor Him.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should make honoring God the great object of our lives and the rule of our conduct.
- Being willing to be put to shame for conscience' sake is a sure way to honor God.
- We can honor God by promoting His glory through our words and actions, and by obeying His commands.