Buying Honours

If online ads cleverly target people most likely to click them, I ought to be troubled. Some algorithm has determined that I am a person likely to seek an honour from the Queen. Perhaps, having searched various aspects of royalty, I was earmarked as the sort of chap to relish some special title or letters appended to my name. I looked at the advert, and the company's site says:

QUEEN’S HONOURS

We will save you valuable time and significantly increase your chances of success. The average success rate is estimated to be just 10% (1 in 10). Our success rate is over 65% (nearly 2 in 3).

BUSINESS AWARDS

Winning business and personal awards will raise your profile, enhance your reputation, instil trust, attract new business and ultimately make you more profitable. In short, it will prove you are better than your competitors.

HOUSE OF LORDS

A peerage is a life changing achievement. It will raise your profile, enhance your reputation, instil trust, add credibility and provide a platform for you to have your say. It is one of the most prestigious and sought after appointments in the world.

So, shall I become a lord, or merely content myself with a knighthood or an OBE? This kind of thing is not technically corrupt, as such honours are conferred by an independent body. Yet there is a little whiff of something not quite right. Putting oneself forward for an honour does not seem very honourable; if you have to tell people your good deeds need recognition, perhaps they are not quite good enough. I actually like the way our nation celebrates achievements, but it may be open to abuse. For £40,000, this company will you give you its unlimited support to obtain the gongs you so very much deserve.

Well as much pleasure as having Her Britannic Majesty pin some medal upon my breast, or her deftly raising and lowering a sword over my shoulders, there is a greater One than she coming to bestow honour and glory. Revelation chapter 22 reads:

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.”

Christ, the undisputed cosmic Emperor of emperors, King of kings and Lord of lords, will descend from heaven to both judge those who reject Him and bless those who love Him. There is no organisation on earth which you can pay to secure some particular prize or bonus, not even the church itself. He seeks a people who love to obey Him, and obey Him because they love Him. He seeks faithfulness despite our faithless world, and conformity to His will amidst the rebellion in which we live.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay