Is my life honorable?

Is My Life Honorable?

Written by: Tom Matlock

The Marines have made no attempt to hide their pursuit of honor. They are generally considered to be the elite branch of the armed forces. But why? Because they take orders well? There’s something more. It takes commitment to discipline and core values that have been passed from generation to generation.

But what does it mean to live honorably in the civilian world? Traits like reliable, trustworthy, responsible, and honest all come to mind. Frankly, we could probably name quite a few more. Perhaps one of the best traits someone who is honorable possesses is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and consistently choose right.

“It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.” 1 Peter 2:15-17 (NLT)

For the Christian, much of our definition of honor is reflected in how a person lives for Christ. Our lives should demonstrate a consistent, unwavering devotion to God. Not only because we were bought with a price, but because it is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). The fact is, any/all of the above traits can, for the believer, be direct results of our relentless pursuit of Christlikeness.

In evaluating our own lives, we need to carefully consider questions like:

Do I seek God daily?

Do I desire to know and seek out His will for my life?

If I know what He expects of me, am I consistent in performing His will to the best of my abilities?

Can others see Christ in me?

And here’s the big one…

Do I resemble a disciple of Christ when there’s no one else around?

If you find any or all of these to be difficult questions to answer, why not ask for the Lord’s help in prayer? Why not immerse yourself in the Word to develop godly character that is honorable? Why not seek out men to become accountable to and strive to become more like Christ?

From Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we read: “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” 4:1 (NLT)

What this all boils down to is whether or not we take our walk with Christ seriously. Perhaps we are too comfortable with our lives or afraid of what others might think to live honorably for Him. Maybe we’re too busy.

Remember, it doesn’t matter what excuse we could come up with, or what the world thinks. Ultimately, the One who defines true honor is God. Live to please Him above all else.

When you stand before Him, will your life be called honorable?