For the past few years, there has been much said about people not respecting one another. The word disrespect is thrown around everywhere. Sometimes it’s valid and others, well, it is just an excuse to say you don’t like their opinion of your actions. Respect is something we should begin learning as early as 1 year old. It starts by teaching our children to obey. In the Bible, it means to give regard, consideration, and attention to it. If it’s a commandment, we are to obey it.
One of the great fallacies I hear over and over is that we don’t owe respect to those who don’t respect us. That is found nowhere in scripture. Our flesh is responsible for that fallacy. It is our selfishness that seeks to get before we give. It is our pride that cries out for equality. The Bible teaches we are to respect all those in authority including our parents, teachers, our leaders, and yes, government officials. Why should we respect someone who is disrespectful in their own actions? Because they have been placed over us by God himself. We don’t have to always agree with someone, but we must always act respectfully. In I Peter 2:17, we are to give honor to all men, or women. Wait, did that verse say ALL? Yes, it did. God intended for us to show respect to those who get under our skin, even those who have no respect for us, and their actions show it. We are to show respect to those who are made in the image of God, and who will spend eternity somewhere. As hard as it may be, God expects us to respect everyone. It would be amazing to see how different people would act if everyone respected each other. While it is true there are those whom we respect more than others if we treat them with respect, we are treating them the way Christ treated them. In John 3:16, He died for all, the murderer, the pedophile, the drunk, and the upstanding citizen. Every individual is precious to God. He doesn’t want any to perish, and we are to be Christlike to point them to Jesus.
I Peter 2:17 “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
As we understand that God wants us to respect all people, we should think about our lives and what we can do to make it easier for others to respect us. One of the character traits of our lives that causes us to be respected is consistency. When we are consistent in our actions and our words, people know where we stand, and they can trust us. The easiest way to lose the respect of others is to be inconsistent. This is true in our relationships with friends, work associates, and especially in the home. Inconsistency is the result of a lack of discipline in our lives. The Bible speaks about self-control in I Peter 1:6, and in Galatians 5:23. We are to add self-control (temperance) to our faith. In Galatians 5:23, it is listed as one of the character traits of the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
When we are Christians, there is no room for sarcasm or talking down to people. This seems to be the norm rather than the kind, thoughtful, others-first, attitude the Bible speaks about. It seems to be accepted in Christian circles just as much as in any other place. We joke, and allow our words to be laced with cynicism, mockery, or sarcasm. This happens among adults and kids. If you want your child to be a disrespectful adult, allow him or her to be a disrespectful child. Children learn from us how to treat others. Whatever you do in the home will be used by them in the home, at school, and anywhere else they go. It is only natural for them to think it is okay if they hear mommy and daddy being disrespectful to one another.
A respectful person will see the person who is homeless as a valued individual that Christ died for and treat them with respect. Neither money, power, influence, nor intelligence should influence the amount of respect shown to another individual. Showing respect for others, no matter who they are should be non-negotiable!
While you may see this attitude as impossible, let me remind you that we serve the God of the impossible. He is able to help us to do anything He requires of us. All we need to do is continue to draw closer to Him each day in obedience. Pray for wisdom and help, but obey at all costs. Be respectful to everyone. Live a life where your words and actions are not cynical or sarcastic, but edifying and honoring to Christ. The ultimate goal in life is to honor Christ in everything we do. If others get the benefit of our obedience, so be it.
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him.”
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
