The Honor that Comes from God.
THIS alone is worthy of being sought by us. It is never bestowed upon those who are unworthy to receive it. It is never gained by false pretenses. Intrigue will not secure it. Selfishness will not accomplish anything in the effort to wrest it from its rightful possessor. It is given only to those that God approves. He judges of men's conduct by the motive which prompts that conduct. He confers honor when the motives are pure, and the acts are right. But he is very careful to know that his honor is our highest aim. That this may be manifested beyond all dispute, he takes care to test his servants by placing them in such spheres of action as shall show that they labor not to please themselves, nor even to gain the applause of their brethren, but solely to honor him whose servants they profess to be. When he finds those who seek his honor only, how greatly pleased is he with them! “Them that honor me,” says God, “I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Sam. 2: 30. And Jesus says, “If any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” John 12: 26. There is one direct road to this honor. It is to seek only to please God. Humiliation, and not advancement, will come first. The singleness of our purpose, the purity of our motives, and the unselfishness of our character, is to be made evident by the course we pursue. Indeed, he may withhold everything but humiliations and crosses. If so, let us say, “Even so, Father, for so it seems good in thy sight.” Let us accept these things with cheerfulness. They are tokens of the lovingkindness of God to us. The course we pursue in these very things is to determine whether we are worthy of honor from God or not. If we are found ready to bear the cross of Christ, even where we cannot always have the approval of the people of God for the time being, our singleness of purpose is thereby plainly revealed. Let us remember to honor God, and he will IN DUE TIME honor us. Let us wait the Lord's time, and fill up the interval by patient continuance in well-doing.