1 Thes 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
Honour:
1) a valuing by which the price is fixed
a) of the price itself
b) of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
2) honour which belongs or is shown to one
a) of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
b) deference, reverence
Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honour, and that of the society at large. The price or value of this person is “fixed” or doesn’t vacillate up and down. I find it interesting that we are called to vessels of honour denoting a certain “fixed” reliability that other people can count on, not tossed by every wind of doctrine. Our word denotes our intent and our handshake is as good as our signature.
Over the years, I have been exposed to many business people whose word is found to be worthless. Our legal system has digressed to the point that vessels of dishonour can manipulate signed contracts to mean anything but the original intent. A contract is to establish a fixed, agreed upon value. Unless coerced into signing a contract, both parties are called to be honorable and simply do the right or righteous thing. The length of contracts has increased from one page to countless pages attempting to guard against every attempt of manipulation.
If you want to honor your parents, be reliable, consistent, and constant. You honor them by being a vessel of honor. When a parent sees their child pursuing an honorable path of consistency, great satisfaction is realized.
Honor is just one of the attributes of Love. It fixes value and allows us to count on others in time of need. Who would you call on when unexpectedly your time of need occurs?