Yesterday, we talked about how money is one of the biggest sources of worry in our lives. Today, I want to discuss a second subject that we as humans tend to fret over — honor.

Webster’s defines honor as “a good name or public esteem,” and a commonly used synonym for the concept is respect. Interestingly, as a culture, we don’t talk often in terms of honor and shame, but we do talk about credit. For instance, we say to ourselves, I did that project with that guy and I didn’t get any credit, or he’s going to get the promotion even though I worked my tail off. No matter what the circumstance, we like to be recognized for our achievements, accomplishments, and efforts. While it is not a bad thing to be honored and receive credit for what we do, I can tell you that staying up at night and losing sleep over it is simply not worth it.

Friend, the need that you feel to worry about honor and respect can be alleviated by understanding that God is always your rewarder. When you seek first His Kingdom and focus on His goodness, your need to get the credit will be replaced by your faith in His good plan. Nothing that you do or accomplish will ever escape His notice, because He loves you completely and perfectly. He doesn’t approve of you only for what you achieve, but, like a Father, He is proud of you because of who you are, and He is delighted when you use the talents and abilities He has given to you. This is why focusing on His faithfulness is a great way to replace the anxiety you feel when you are mistreated or slighted. He will take care of you, and the wisdom He gives in abundance will guide you through every difficult situation. Isn’t that wonderful news?