This week, we begin a new series on “Favor,” which will be exploring all scriptural principles on the subject for the benefit of all believers. By definition, favor is a system of advantage granted by God to His people that causes them to walk in compelling attractiveness and divine acceptability. It is a manifestation of the grace of God, and is a part of the package we receive when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Of this grace, Apostle Peter said, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). This makes it known to us that while we have received this grace in our spirit, knowledge is the multiplication factor of its operation in our lives; the more we know about it and its governing principles, the more it flows and finds expression. This was true for the Lord Jesus as well, whom we read grew in wisdom and in stature, finding favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). He was not exempt from the knowledge based progression principle, so it is imperative that we too are intentional about increasing in knowledge as Jesus was. As we seek after knowledge, we “find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4). Important to note is that this favor begins with God, but does not end with Him; to walk in complete divine favor, one needs to not only accept God’s favor, but solicit the favor of men as well.
The favor of men is particularly important because the treasures of God for our benefit rest in men, and as we see in the scriptures, God uses men to fulfill His divine promises to us. This was true for Jesus, who was God Himself; had he not solicited men’s favor, he would have had no boats to support his teaching ministry whenever he gathered crowds (Luke 5:1-3; Mark 4:1; Matthew 13:1-3), he would not have had a donkey for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40), no upper room to host the last supper the night before he was killed (Luke 22:8), nor would he have had a burial tomb to be laid in after the crucifixion (John 19:38-42). This is the same message God gave Paul when he was being persecuted for preaching the gospel in Macedonia, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9). God employed the agency of men to come to Paul’s rescue, there was no lightning from heaven, no angels, no earthquake, but mere human beings. Cultivating a relational heart and valuing God’s people is therefore imperative to our experience of God’s blessing in various forms; there is no believer who will survive as an island – your relationship with God will lead you to relating with men in many stages of your life.
Because of this understanding, believers should then work on cultivating an honorable spirit, bestowing honor where it is due and always looking to recognize the workings of God through the people around them. What you do not honor, you do not partake and come to experience, and it is unfortunate that God can bring people into one’s life with the purpose of blessing the individual and move them to the next level, but the lack of humility and honor blinds one’s eyes. You are not peers with everyone, some people have gone before you and for you to reach where you are, you have to acknowledge and honor their position while you are where you are. This lesson can be seen in the life of Joseph, who appreciated the call of God upon his life, but never allowed that to blind him from serving with honor wherever he was placed, even while he was slave (Genesis 39). His life also teaches us a valuable lesson, that unless we appreciate that true value and prosperity comes from our relationship with God and not in material possessions, our value system will be skewed. This is a lesson emphasized by the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:13-21 that we need to absorb with seriousness. Our relationship with God is the beginning of favor and wealth, and it is with that understanding that we pursue with diligence the favor of men through his God-given principles.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the abundance of grace we have in Christ Jesus. Thank You that we have favor and good understanding in Your sight and in the sight of man. Teach us to walk in humility and apply our hearts to wisdom. May Your Word continue to guide us, and may favor continue to open doors for us that no man can shut. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
