"Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (1 Sam. 2:30).

The Bible tells us here that God honors those who honor Him and that He lightly esteems those who despise Him. By this scripture, we know what we must do, but the question is, how do we esteem and honor God?

Of course, we esteem and give Him honor when we worship Him and tithe. But there is another way to give Him honor that is often overlooked.

Jesus said, "...Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40). Who are "the least of these"? The Greek word for least is translated as "in amount: of management of affairs...in importance...in the estimation of men: of persons," and "in rank and excellence: of persons." Here's an example that shows the heart of Jesus in this matter.

When the disciples attempted to keep the children away from Jesus, Jesus rebuked them. (Mark 10:13-14.) The children are considered least by some, but according to Jesus, they are valuable, "for such is the kingdom of God" (v. 14). We can give honor to Jesus and we honor God by giving honor to the little ones.

But that raises the question again, "How do we honor the children?" We honor our children at home and at church by giving them the Word of God and by training them in the ways of the kingdom. As Christian adults, we should supply the very best teaching materials for our children. We must give them quality time and understanding. We must be an example to them of peace and wisdom.

Too many parents will control their tongue and their anger in public, but release it in an ungodly way privately in front of their children. This should not be. When we do this, we are not giving honor to our children. And according to Jesus, what we do to the least, we are doing to Him.

So how do we honor God? We honor God by giving honor to children and to those the world would consider of less value. We should never judge people because of their income, education, or for the work they do in society. Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart. Philippians 2:3 tells us to, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." 

Devotion 0394