God’s Word on Honoring the House of God

​As God is to be honored, so must the things of God be honored.  If a president were to be honored yet his home or other things associated with him were not honored how much is the president truly honored.  This same principle can be applied to God.  How much does a person honor God if God’s house is not honored (Psalm 26:8)?  Christians should honor the things of God because of the association between those things and God.  The house of God should have honor from all those who love, serve, or fear God.  If God’s presence is in His house there should be honor there.  When low lights, snacks, gimmicks, and games have to be used in gathering people that gathering is not a church but a social club.  What fellowship does God have with darkness?  He doesn’t (Acts 26:18).  Why do some churches choose to have darkness in their sanctuary?  What holiness and hope of Jesus Christ do snacks, gimmicks, and games give?  None (2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, John 17:17, 1 Corinthians 11:34, Psalm 39:7, 71:5, 119:114).  The purpose of the church is to reflect God, not culture. 
 
In Matthew 21:12-13, these verses display that when there is a dishonor for the house or things of God Jesus has the right to throw the dishonorable people out.  The issue was not the process of moneychanging but instead the greedy sellers' manipulation of those seeking to honor God with sacrifices.  In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter charges believers to sanctify (set apart) God in their hearts.  If God is honored within the hearts of His people the things of God will be honored.  The house of God will be honored, the people of God will be honored, and the Word of God will be honored by producing a holy lifestyle that is pleasing unto God. 
 
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, the Apostle Paul is telling Timothy to continue in the things of God.  If Timothy did not have honor for the things of God he would have failed this command given to him by his man of God.  Part of this conversation discusses the Word of God that is profitable for doctrine (living a holy life through teaching), reproof (exposing, convicting sin), correction (adjusting to increase accuracy), and instruction in righteousness (what is right, the act of doing what is in agreement with God’s standards).  Lacking an honor for the things of God will negate a love for God (Ezekiel 22:26-27).  These verses display that dishonoring the things of God reflects a dishonor for God.  This issue became so deep-rooted within the people that the leaders began to destroy the lives of others for financial gain.  The origin was defiling God’s instructions and holy things. 
 
Honor must be established and kept within the hearts of God’s people.  Practicing honor should be a lifestyle of every Christian to keep a right attitude not only to God but to the things of God (Psalm 71:8).  This is the responsibility of all believers to keep a heart toward God and not allow the enemy to begin a division by declining honor for the things of God leading to a lack of honor for God.  Small increments will create a big impact over a period of time.  Christians must discern even the small things that attempt to creep in to create this division.  May churches and Christians honor God to be the light (Ephesians 5:11, John 8:12, 1 John 1:6-7) to shine bright in giving the love, hope, and the holiness of God to an unholy world.