Print This Article     Email This Article to a Friend       Honor: A New Kind of Teamwork   Coach Dean Smith said to Michael Jordan in his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, "Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play." Imagine what would have happened if Michael had never learned the necessity of teamwork. Jordan's coach knew that Michael couldn't go far unless he had his teammates behind him. He also knew that Michael's teammates wouldn't follow unless Michael led the way by honoring their desire and talent to play basketball, sometimes above his own. When we go to work, we are faced with this same necessity. We interact with the same people every day—our coworkers, our clients, our boss. Learning to become a team player means esteeming the people you interact with on a daily basis. It means respecting the team's wishes over your own. In essence, team players know what true honor is all about. I believe that honor is frequently the missing element where our interpersonal relationships are concerned. And yet, according to the Word, it's the one thing that will unlock a person's heart so that effective communication can take place. Defining Honor What is honor? The Greek word translated honor in the New Testament connotes something of priceless value. This word is associated with a sense of heaviness and weightiness. It's similar to glory in one respect. In other words, you place a priceless value on the people that God brings into your life. I have discovered this is what biblical love is. It is a reflection of how much you value another person. God wants us to have this kind of love for other people. "But Mac," you might say, "what if a person doesn't deserve any honor?" Although it may be beyond our human understanding, it is vital that we honor all people. Why? This is precisely what God did for each one of us. He valued us so much that He paid the ultimate price. Did you deserve it? Of course, you didn't. Neither did I. To say that we can't honor somebody until they've become deserving of it is inconsistent with the example Jesus set for us. God has already demonstrated to us that it is His purpose for us to extend honor, to place a high value on the people He brings into our lives, whether they deserve it or not. Why? Because He loves us that way too. Honor Opens the Door We know that the Word instructs us to honor God. He also tells husbands to honor their wives (1 Peter 3:7). In the same chapter, wives are exhorted to honor their husbands. Children are repeatedly commanded in Scripture to honor their parents. And in Romans 12:10, all believers are encouraged to prefer one another in honor. In none of these instances does the instruction to give honor have anything to do with whether or not the person deserves it. God didn't put a condition on it. He just said to do it. Why do we honor each other? For the simple reason that when you honor someone, each of you will cultivate a deeper respect for the other person. Once you decide that you're going to honor somebody and you then begin doing the things that will honor them, the doors of communication are opened between you and them. Your relationship will be built on a solid foundation. Keys to Giving Honor When you become "honor conscious" in your interactions with others, you'll find many opportunities to honor them as you go about the routine of your day. For example, when you ignore another person's questions or opinions, you dishonor that person, don't you? Or if you belittle a person's opinions or views, you've again dishonored that person. One of the ways to honor someone is to simply be courteous enough to listen to his or her opinion. Whether you like the opinion or not, you can always respond by saying, "Hey, thanks for telling me that. I really appreciate your input." Another way to honor people is simply by giving them your full attention when they are talking. When someone comes to talk to you, don't look out the window or check your email. Focus on the person who is talking to you and listen to what he or she is saying. These are simple ideas that have become forgotten in our fast-moving society. We've become in such a hurry that we forget to focus on the people we interact with each day. Margaret Carty once said, "The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side." When you honor others, you are assured of the wholehearted support, loyalty, and cooperation of those who are a part of your life. This God-ordained idea of honor will create effective relationships for you at work and at home.
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