Give to everyone what you owe them:
if respect, then respect;
if honor, then honor.
- Romans 13:7 -
The word “honor” translates a Greek word (timē) which means to estimate the worth of something and to show careful regard for it. The apostle Paul uses the same word in Acts 28:10 to describe the citizens of Malta (a small island nation 58 miles south of Sicily), saying, “they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.” That is to say, the people held Paul in high esteem and showed their admiration and respect in tangible ways.
That’s what Scripture commands Christians to do in relation to public officials, according to Romans 13:7. The respect and honor we show them is not a voluntary contribution on our part; it is what we “owe them.” The very next verse says, “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another” (Rom. 13:8).
While Christians are called to love all people, even our enemies (Matt. 5:44), the emphasis in Romans 13:1-7 is on showing honor and respect to public officials, those who are employed by our government.
Veterans Day provides a special opportunity to honor specifically our military members — all those who have served our country in war or peace. (Whereas Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, Veterans Day is meant to honor present and former military members who are still alive.)
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. According to the U.S. Department of Defense website,
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months before that when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and dubbed Armistice Day. In 1926, Congress officially recognized it as the end of the war, and in 1938, it became an official holiday, primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.
But then World War II and the Korean War happened, so on June 1, 1954, at the urging of veterans service organizations, Congress amended the commemoration yet again by changing the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs HR7786, June 1, 1954. This ceremony changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
The liberties that we enjoy as Americans today exist because our veterans have faithfully served, and even fought, to defend our nation’s freedom. These men and women deserve our honor and respect.
How can we show it to them? The easiest way is simply to thank them. Not just in a general way by posting something on social media (although that is a good thing to do), but in a personal way. Express your sincere gratitude to at least one veteran for his/her service to our country.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website lists 45 practical ways to honor veterans. Here are some things you can do:
Attend a Veteran’s Day event.
Ask a Veteran about his/her time in the military, and really listen to his/her answer.
Take a Veteran out to dinner, or take dinner to a Veteran.
Write and send a letter to someone who is currently serving in the military.
Thank a Veteran co-worker for their service.
Wear your favorite “pro-Vet” T-shirt.
Devote time or money or supplies to local Veterans Day drives.
Gather with family and friends to watch a patriotic movie.
Thank a Veteran for his/her service while running errands
Pick one or two of the activities listed above, and resolve to do them at least once a month when it’s NOT Veterans Day.
Above all, let us pray for our Veterans. Not only that God would keep them safe and secure and bless them, but that they would experience the joy of salvation by putting their trust in the the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us (Gal. 2:20).