Our nation has become a culture of dishonor. We are very vocal about our dislikes and trash our leaders with criticism and disdain. We can blame our media for this, but what about our household conversations?

Our relationship with God is played out in our human relationships; scripture has much to say about our dealings with one another.

We tend to build ourselves up by putting others down, whether it be feelings toward a race, people group, or individual. Yet Romans 12:3 says, “not to think of yourselves more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment.” Likewise, Philippians 2: 3 warns us, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Honor is the positive way to correct those attitudes. Honor is life-giving to the person receiving it. By being honored, he or she is empowered to do better and greater things, to fulfill the God-given purpose for his or her life. By contrast, dishonor saps a person of confidence, ability, and courage to step out in faith. It brings death.

How can we build a culture of honor? We can start in our own heart, asking Jesus to help us see people as He sees them: what potential is there? what gifts undiscovered? what God-given passions to make a difference in the world? We can catch those habitual, encroaching thoughts of superiority for ourselves or disdain for another, repent, and replace with blessing.

We can look for opportunities to show honor to others. After all, we are told to “honor everyone” (I Peter 2:17). Why don’t we “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).