Paul writes, “Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10b). Peter would have us to “honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). We are to honor our parents (Ephesians 6:2–3, Exodus 20:12). Masters were to treat their slaves” justly and fairly” (Colossians 4:1) while slaves were told to “obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:22–23). Both are to treat the other with dignity and respect, honoring one another with honest dealings in work and treatment. But, what makes this passage in Romans 12:10 unique is the description of “outdoing one another in showing honor.” To honor someone is to hold him or her in high respect and dignity. As a redeemed fellow Christian, every brother and sister shares a unique position in relationship to God and thus to one another. This sweet fellowship is not forced or in any way abnormal or unnatural but is a very justifiable reaction.
As is always the case, we look to Jesus as our example. Jesus is respectful to the disrespectful and honorable towards the dishonorable. There is some intrinsic worth in every human soul. But, in Christ, every member of the body has honor and value. Notice the following passage in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26:
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”