Respecting Others something our world needs NOW

In this world we live in today, respect is hard to find. I see it all the time in my gaming interactions and even in church with grown adults. I am by no means perfect but my gosh I at least try. Its so hard and so revolting to see the amount of selfishness inside everyone. It is really not that hard to respect others if you just put a little effort into changing your mindset. Our world would be such a better place if each person took the time to think about how their actions and words affected others before following through.

In the next few paragraphs I will be going through what the Bible has to say about respecting others but even if you are not Christian please continue reading because it is still good moral information that everyone should try to grasp so we can make this world a better place.

First lets look up what respect is... The definition of respect is, "due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others." This basically means putting the other persons perspective before your own. In order to respect one another we need to take into consideration their feelings and needs before saying something or doing something that could harm them either physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Romans 12:9-21 says, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

This selection of verses gives us an exact layout of how we are supposed to act. If how you have been carrying yourself does not align with the words in these verses then it is time to work on some changes in your life and your mindset. What God is asking from us here in these verses are not hard and God is here to help you become that person. When thinking about respect pay attention to the key parts of these verses including, Be devoted to one another in love, Honor one another above yourself, live in harmony with one another, and live at peace with everyone. God wants us to work together and help one another in this lifetime. We all need to stop working against each other and start rooting for one another.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, "3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Do you speak from a heart of selfishness or selflessness? It is very easy to throw respect for others out the window when you are coming through with a heart of selfishness. Selfishness is what I believe to be one of the main roots of evil. Selfishness causes destruction and chaos wherever it goes. We must work harder to put our selfish ways aside and start thinking of others and their needs. This does not mean you need to be a doormat for other people. What it means is before you say something to someone take into consideration how your words could affect their life or before you take an action consider how it either helps or hurts those around you.

1 Peter 3:8-17 says, "8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

Here in 1 Peter we find another layout of how we should be conducting ourselves. I pick out the things like be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, humble, keep your tongue from evil, have gentleness and respect, and that it is better to suffer for doing good. It seems so silly that these things are so easy to do yet its hard to find. All these things are part of respecting one another.

In Matthew 22:34-40 we find the greatest commandment, " The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If we follow these two simple rules then all the other commandments fall into place. Love God and Love People. It can be so simple if we just let it. Its funny when I see people making certain things so much more complicated than it has to be. I like to come in and simplify things. Less mistakes happen when it doesn't take a doctorate and a super human proficiency in multitasking to get something done. God knows that we are imperfect and can not even fathom understanding His greatness so he comes to our level and simplifies things for us. Love God is of course number one because He is the one and only true God and our creator. And second is to love the other people that He has created. When you develop a love for others like God has for us then the other rules are much easier to follow.

For tonight I will leave you with one of my favorite selection of verses from 1 Corinthians. These set of verses should be life goals. To have this kind of love for God's people is worth so much more than any material thing on this earth could give you. I have these verses written in various parts of my home including on a magnet on my fridge.

1 Corinthians 13, "1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13 over and over again. Then pray over those verses and ask God to help you develop a heart that has this amazing love described in these verses. To love others around you with this kind of love will be contagious! Let's start spreading love and positivity in our everyday lives instead of negativity.

Til next time!

~ Jessica