Respect

What does it mean to respect?

Webster defines respect as a high or special regard to someone or something. Respect for your elders and those in a leadership position over you. That is one way of looking at it.

Respect has come to mean more than esteem or reverence. We talk a lot about being respectful of our equals in school. Not bullying is a form of respect. Seeing someone as a person and not a punching bag is a kind of esteem. Maybe you don't put them on a pedestal, but you don't look down on them or discount their opinions.

Respect is seeing someone as an equal. Respect is seeing someone as valid.

You see yourself as important. You see yourself as valid. Your respect yourself in some way or other. So why not respect others?

Maybe it's because you get your validity from putting people down. When you get the chance to see yourself as higher than someone, you feel better about yourself. I know you don't do it consciously. But deep down inside there is that attitude. If you can be right and they can be wrong, your life is a little less dreary.

Look at 1 Tim. 2:1-4. Paul says to make supplications and thanksgivings for ALL PEOPLE, not just your friends and the people you respect. Not only that but Paul takes it a step further. "For kings, and all who are in high positions". Now don't start getting technical with me. When he says kings, that includes-dare I say it- our president. Yep. Paul says to pray and give thanksgivings for our dear old president.

I don't know about you, but I don't particularly love our president. I'm not political, really but I am not a big fan of the decisions he's made lately. Now I know a lot of people (dear friends of mine) who are very political. I was raised around people who believed in being active in the government . I got a little wrapped up in it myself for a time. Anymore all I do is vote and then roll my eyes every time our president does something I don't agree with.

But that's not what Paul told Timothy and the believers to do. He said to be thankful for these people in high places. There is always a higher up we won't be a fan of. Keep in mind Paul was writing to a group of people under Roman rule. Don't think for a second that they had an easier job of respecting the rulers of their day. They lived in a corrupt society. Many of the people in high positions were persecuting the Christians Paul was writing to.

Paul didn't say we had to agree with them. He just said to pray and be thankful. Why? "So that we might a peaceful and quiet life, Godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior who desires that all be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth."

After all, is it really so important that we be right and they be wrong? Look at your higher ups through God's eyes. He wants them to be saved. They're lost. They need what you have. Who are you to think of yourself as better than them? Do really think you are more deserving of eternal life than they are? So what if they are messing up? Isn't that just a symptom of the fact that they need Jesus? God wants us to live in peace with others. Respect. Respect them enough to wish them the same grace shown to you. God has put them over you for a reason. If nothing else do it for God's name sake. Respect them enough to put aside you differences and honor them. Submit to those in authority over you.

I get that you have your opinions. Do you think that they are more valid that the president's? He is a smart person and didn't come by his views randomly. We need to be the ones setting the example of submission and respect. Not agreement. You don't have to agree with everything he does. Just respect. That's all.

Shake us up, Lord!