Go First

On Tuesday we stopped halfway through Romans 12:10. Paul wrote, “Love each other with genuine affection,” and he kept going: “and take delight in honoring each other.”

The Greek word behind “honoring each other” is proēgeomai. Romans 12:10 is the only place it appears in the New Testament. It means to go before someone, to lead the way. Paul is telling the church to race each other to the honor. Be the first one there.

Most of us wait. We wait for the other person to call first, to apologize first, to say thank you first. We give honor once it has been earned, or once someone has honored us. Paul turns that around. Don’t wait for it. Go first.

The word for honor, timē, is also the Greek word for price. Paul used it when he wrote to the Corinthians: “God bought you with a high price” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

So taking delight in honoring each other means treating the person across from you as worth what God paid for them. The neighbor who never waves back. The coworker who takes the credit. The friend who hurt you and still hasn’t said sorry. Every one of them was bought with the blood of Jesus.

And Jesus went first. On the night he gave the new commandment, before he said a word about loving one another, he got up from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5). Judas was at that table. So was Peter, who would deny him before the rooster crowed. He washed their feet anyway.

Who could you honor this week before they have a chance to honor you?

On Saturday: “Live in harmony with each other” (Romans 12:16).