Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” The word for honor in the Greek language literally means to fix value to someone. 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” Literally, Peter is saying, “fix value to everyone.” “Fix value to the emperor.”
Paul addressed the Roman church and told them not to resist the governing authorities. He told them that they were instituted by God and that “rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no rear of the one who is in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive his approval” (Romans 13:3). Paul also says to “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (vs. 7).
Yes, we give honor to everyone, but we also give honor to whom honor is owed. These statements are not in conflict with one another. Everyone should be honored, and we also must give honor to the one whom honor is owed. This means we don’t brush off the importance of fixing value to people who were created in God’s image! If ever there’s something we shouldn’t hesitate to do, it’s to give honor to our fellow man.