Our family gives us roots. In the epic 1977 miniseries Roots, we learned about African teen Kunta Kinte, who found himself enslaved in America. His roots ran deep, stretching across the ocean to a distant continent. And yet, he put down roots in his new life, also, ones honored in the film.
Yet, there is such a thing as false honor, something we heap on ourselves to make ourselves seem better than we are, better than our history, better than our roots make us out to be.
We shame ourselves in the process.
Matthew 23:5 tells us:
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.”
The passage goes on to say that they love their place of honor at banquets and want to be seen in the chief seats in the synagogues.
Who are they? Specifically, the Scribes and Pharisees. More aptly? The modern day Christian.
De we want the solo in the choir because we wish to share in ministry, or because we feel we’re better than the other singers around us? If our name’s not listed on the overhead screen during church member appreciation night, are our feelings hurt? Or do we rejoice in those who receive praise?
If our roots are firmly planted in Jesus, in our salvation, and in the cross, we won’t need to raise ourselves up with the false honor of banquets and chief seats. We won’t desire to have our name splashed across the church’s video screens.
Instead let’s think of the movie that will be made of our life in 50 years’ time. Will it portray family, honor, and a person who works hard for Christ, while demanding nothing other than that all praise be diverted unto the Father above, the one who deserves all honor and glory and praise?
Matthew 6:6 tells us how it’s done:
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Honor from the Father is true honor, and it builds us up before the world. We don’t have to seek it. It comes to us when we follow after him.
When we are rooted in Christ, we will bloom before the world with the sincerity of his love.
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Code: FGO.F.10.15.vp.esv