Fond of Honor (φιλοτιμέομαι)

Fond of Honor (φιλοτιμέομαι) is a word derived from the combination of fondness (φιλος) and honor (τιμη) to express the concept of aspire towards that which is honorable. Thus, have a strong desire, ambition, or aim to achieve something. It is often used when someone is striving toward a high or noble goal.

Paul aspired to evangelize the gospel where Christ had not been named, carrying it to the end of the known world, not building upon another’s work (Romans 15:20). Just as it is written, “to those whom it was not announced, they will discern, and to those who have not heard, they will understand”.

We walk by faith, not by what we physically see; therefore, we are to aspire, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:9). While we are present in this body, we are absent from the Lord. Although we groan within ourselves to be swallowed up by life, during our time here on earth, we are to strive to be pleasing to God. We will all face the reward seat of Christ and receive the things that have been done in this body (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Although the Thessalonians saints could have retaliated against the Jews who stirred up the city and instigated the magistrates to illegally demand surety from the victims; instead, Paul encouraged them to refrain from disruptive activities, living a well-ordered life (1 Thessalonians 4:11). This type of lifestyle focuses on your own things, working with your own hands so that you are able to walk in a proper manner to those who are outside the Church.

We are to be fond of doing what is honorable, for God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. Therefore, let us be diligent to add to our faith virtue, and to our virtue knowledge, and to our knowledge self-control, and to our self-control patience, and to our patience godliness, and to our godliness brotherly love, for we will stand before God and answer for our own works done in this body. When these qualities abound in us, we will not be barren or unfruitful in the full experiential knowledge of God. Living a life that is well-pleasing to Him, we will be rewarded when Christ returns to present His bride to the Father.

Therefore, let us live a peaceful life, focusing on our own things while caring for other members of the body of the Christ, and being content with what the Lord has given to us, as we wait with anticipation for the return of our Lord.