Honor is a concept of life (a value if you will) that we are
losing in today's value-free society. Very few seem to have any idea of honor
either in their daily lives, their relationships or their work. Webster's
Dictionary defines "honor' as: "...official dignity,
repute, esteem - a keen sense of right and wrong - adherence to actions or
principles considered right - integrity - to bring respect ... to show
regard..."
In the Old Testament, the Bible uses several different Hebrew
words that are translated "honor." These carry the idea of magnificence or
splendor. In the New Testament, the main Greek word translated "honor" means
"to praise or to revere."
It has its origin in a Greek word meaning "valuable." In fact the
Greek word for "without honor" literally means "no value."
Honor, used in the sense of how one lives their life means
"BEING TRUE TO WHAT IS RIGHT." Since many today have no concept of what is right
or what is wrong (including many of our country's leaders unfortunately, both
the spiritual and the legislative ones) it should be of little surprise that
people today have no honor. From what is coming out of our educational
institutions it makes one wonder if many of our teachers or professors have any
honor.
In today's society those who would live honorably are often
looked upon as being weirdo's or fanatics.
Honor is a many-sided virtue and includes:
- Self-Discipline--disciplining or
training oneself.
- Responsibility--being
accountable to ourselves and to others.
- Courage--standing our ground in the
face of impossible odds.
- Perseverance--keeping on keeping on
when it would be much easier just to quit.
- Honesty-being genuine, real, in
everything we do.
- Loyalty--being faithful to
others.
- Duty - doing what's right
whether or not it's popular and whether or not we win.
Faith--reaching beyond ourselves
and our own abilities.
Each of these, by the way, is a sermon in itself.
Honor involves being true to our word. This is found among all
races of man. Of the Sioux Indian it has been written by those who lived with
them "... honesty was an absolute, and lying was sure
to bring the direst consequences. The straight stem of the pipe a man smoked
represented the need to speak straightly .. so that it might never be said of
him that he spoke with two tongues ...." (The
Mystic Warriors of the Plains, pg. 69)
In the early days of the West a person was judged by how true
they were to their word. Many a cattle contract worth thousands of dollars were
concluded simply on a handshake. If a man gave his word he was expected to keep
it.
This concept has its roots in the Judeo-Christian ethic, though
it can be found among many other cultures. Psalm 15 in the Old Testament
describes the solid, unmovable man who will enjoy God's blessing as one who "...
keeps a promise even if it ruins him..." (Ps 15:4, The
Living Bible)
To live honorably means to remain true to what is right in spite
of pressure to do otherwise. Even if no one is watching! The life thus lived is
of great value. To die with honor means that we must first live honorably. To
live honorably, and to die honorably. The life so lived counts for something. It
has purpose. It is valuable.
This to me is a mark of a real Shootist. A man of honor. To a
man of honor you can entrust your property, your possessions, your family or
your life and know they are looked after. You would not have to worry about
them.
Live honorably. It will attract those who have a similar honor
and you will stand out from among the ordinary. Who knows what life you may
influence? In the end, if someone says of me, "He was an honorable man." I will
count it as the highest compliment.
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