We Are to Give Preference
to One Another
(Am I My Brother’s Keeper?)
Lesson 3
Brief Review
• In this series of lessons entitled, “Am I My
Brother’s Keeper?”, we are seeking to discover
all the ways in which we are to:
– Provide for one another’s physical and spiritual needs
– Protect one another from the evil one
– Promote the mutual growth of our faith
• So far, we have discovered that we are indeed to
be our brother’s keeper because we have been
commanded to:
– Love one another
– Be at Peace with one another
Giving Preference to One
Another in Honor
•
Our main text for this lesson is found in Romans
(12:10): “Be kindly affectionate to one another with
brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one
another.”
•
In order to come to an understanding of our
responsibility in this matter, we will answer four
questions:
1. What does it mean to give preference to one another in
honor?
2. What obstacles are there in accomplishing our goal?
3. To whom should we give preference in honor?
4. How can we become the kind of person who gives honor to
another?
What Does It Mean to Give Preference to
One Another in Honor?
• Sometimes studying the original language
of the text under consideration helps us
to come to an understanding of what is
being stated.
– “Giving Preference” (PROGEOMI). It means
to take the lead in assigning honor to others.
– “Honor” (TIME). It means respect or value
given to another.
What Does It Mean to Give Preference
to One Another in Honor?
• In putting these two thoughts together, we
can discover that “giving preference to
one another in honor” means that:
We are to take the lead in assigning
respect and value to our fellow brothers
and sisters in Christ rather than selfishly
seeking that same honor for ourselves.
What Does It Mean to Give Preference to
One Another in Honor?
• There are three other translations of the Bible
that point to this very truth we have come to
learn from Romans (12:10).
“…outdo one another in showing honor.”
(American Standard Version)
“…honor one another above yourselves.”
(New International Version)
“…you should want to give your brothers and
sisters more honor than you want for
yourself.”
(Easy to Read Version)
What Obstacles Are There in
Accomplishing Our Goal?
• Self-Centeredness (“I should be most
important!”)
• Selfish Ambition (“I need to be honored
if I am going to get ahead!”)
• Envy (“It is not fair that someone else
is honored and I am not!”)
What Obstacles Are There in
Accomplishing Our Goal?
• The solution to this problem is found in
the words of Philippians (2:3,4):
“Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than
himself. Let each of you look out not
only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.”
To Whom Should We Give
Preference in Honor?
• Our Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ
(Romans 12:10; I Corinthians 12:23-26)
• Our Parents (Ephesians 6:1,2)
• The Elders (I Timothy 5:17)
• Husbands and Wives (Ephesians 5:33; I Peter
3:7)
• The Lord (Hebrews 3:3-6)
How Can We Become the Kind of Person
Who Gives Honor to Another?
• Those individuals who graciously give
honor to another are people who
possess a spirit of true humility and
selflessness.
• Truly, those who choose to give honor
to another have made themselves into
a vessel of honor that is useful to God.
(II Timothy 2:20,21)