Lest We Forget Honour

Lest We Forget Honor -   By  Ted Msipa

Honor you father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the lord your God is giving you – Exodus 20 v 12

The world over is in the intensive care unit. It is slowly but surely bleeding to death. The most painful thing about this whole debacle is that no one seems to care as to why we are here. How did we get here? What is it that we did not do well?

One key word comes to mind when I do a lot of soul searching. As humanity we have dishonored the tenets of Jehovah God’s word. We have not bestowed honour on our parents primarily and humanity secondarily. The Ancient of Days is very serious about the subject matter of honour. It therefore is not a surprise that he put it as the fifth commandment. The number five in the prophetic calendar relates to grace. So when we exercise honour we attract a grace of longevity. So serious is God that he has attached strings to compliance with this great commandment. All the other commandments do not have an additional benefit which is clearly started. Granted, all commandments have implied benefits, but the fifth one is very specific. When you observe it, you will be given longevity of life.

As a scholar I fully understand that when God states something for the first time, we adopt it as a standard based on the law of first mention. So it is important that we understand the importance of honour. Honour is a great mystery, it makes you access not only long life. It ensures that you get blessings which you previously did not deserve. Honour is such a powerful principle in the word of God such that God even demands it in the book of Malachi, as does Jesus in the synoptic gospels. A lot of people pray to Jehovah God for a long life. I think they are out of order; they should do what the bible says. It says honour your parents so that you may live long. It also says that these people die young because of their sin. The primary sin which is being spoken of is called dishonor.

The bible, contrary to public perception was not written for Christians. I know others call it the believers instruction before leaving the earth. My observation over the years has convinced me that the bible is an instruction to all humanity. It is the manufacturer’s manual on how humanity should conduct itself on its sojourn on this planet called earth. So the bible is not a religious book. It is God’s instruction to humanity. It is an instruction to Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems, Traditionalists and Christians alike. The only differentiating mark is that Christians are willing to take it as an instruction manual while others regard it as one of those books. But I have seen that whoever engages in biblical principles will get its results irrespective of their religious inclinations. A case in point is the Indian community which does generally not believe in the bible. However, it honours its elderly in a great way to the extent that parents can even arrange you a wife you do not know. As a result, most Indians die at a ripe old age and their marriages will be still intact. Another important teaching of the bible is that of paying tithes. Most people who grapple with poverty are non-tithers. Most people who are prosperous are tithers. The top ten billionaires in the world may not be Christian but they subscribe to the principle of tithing. No wonder why they are seated on top of the cherries.

As a people, particularly us the browns, we lack honour. As a result, we indulge in what our parents would look at with disdain. Why would a married man go after another man’s wife is primarily because of dishonor? It is a sure death wish because how does one dare play with the tail of a tiger and not get bitten. How does one walk barefooted in a forest full of deadly vipers and expect not to get the vipers venomous sting?

There is so much dishonor and disdain among our file and rank. We all believe that we are meant to be first man. Everyone around Maseru fancies himself as the next Prime Minister. Everybody in Maseru fancies himself as the next Chief Executive Officer. That kind of thinking is not honorable. Not everybody is meant to be a first man. There has to be a first man, a second man and a third man. Otherwise how could we be able to run a non-dysfunctional society and organization. Honour is very important because it elongates not only our lives but even our opportunities.

A man of honour is a discerning man, he knows times and seasons are appointed by the lord. He celebrates those at the mountaintop even when he is in the valley. He waits with patience and renewed faith. He perceives that God is for us all and so his day is coming. But the question is, are you that man or woman of honour? Do you have what it takes to create a new reality? Great leaders curved their niche as great listeners. It is in listening that we learn to honour divergent but useful views. The wisdom of the tortoise is in assimilating the wisdom of the fast ones so that he becomes the leader that we all desire.

As a leader, there are always options on who follows you. Sometimes you become a leader the rich can follow. Yet at times you become a leader only the poor can follow. But when you sit on the true leadership pinnacle, you must become the leader which all men love to follow. You can only become that leader when you become a man of honour. The sincerest way for that to happen is following the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ. He is the way maker, miracle worker and mountain mover. Wise leaders follow Jesus Christ, the man of honour and so people will follow them.

May honour become your portion this season. It is honour that made Abraham God’s friend. It is honour that took Joseph from the prison to the palace. Honour preserves a nation and a people. May the leader in you rise to conquer.