The Ability to Advance

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.

Proverbs 10:22

All too often, advancement is gained through wickedness, lies, greed and dishonor. This advancement is not from the Lord. Why? Because true riches and advancement occur whether you are poor or rich in the form of God’s presence and favor. We cannot truly have wealth without God’s favor. The Bible is clear that if we don’t work we don’t eat. However, we must work as unto the Lord which includes honor. The blessing that comes with honor qualifies the unqualified, comforts during a setback, repairs broken relationships and yes, can even promote you supernaturally.

The story of Noah is well known. He built the ark amongst great ridicule. He stayed the course even after others had moved on. His focus and vision was on the Lord only. Noah and his family were saved during the flood and chosen to repopulate the earth. Since we are talking about honor, I want to draw your attention to the events after the flood. Noah began to farm and provide for his family. Genesis chapter 9 is the first mention of wine in the Bible and it caused sin, shame and ultimately a curse.

Noah had planted a vineyard, he drank of the wine and the Bible says he “was drunken” and laid naked in his tent. Here is where dishonor and honor came into the story. One son, Ham saw his father’s nakedness but instead of treating his father with honor, he went and told his brothers. Ham dishonored his father through gossip and disrespect. The Bible tells us in Genesis 9:23 about the honor displayed by the other two sons: But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it on both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Noah woke up and discovered the dishonor of his son Ham. He immediately pronounced a curse on Ham’s son Canaan. Why the son? It is not clear. Perhaps Canaan was involved in some way or perhaps he possessed the same character flaw of dishonor as his father. The prophecy did come true, the people of Canaan were servants and Joshua 3 tells us about them being driven from their land by the Israelites. You see, these people were not punished because their forefather had done something wrong, but because their behavior was just as wicked as his.

Francis Frangipane put it this way in, The Power of Honor, “A dishonoring spirit will cause them to remain poor, frustrated and outside the realm of the blessed and prosperous.” Dishonor breeds complaints, anger and bitterness. No one is perfect in life but how we deal with the imperfections of others and life determines our advancement. Do we handle situations and people with honor? Let the blessings of God advance you spiritually and physically. Be a person of honor.

Pastor Julia Scott