How a Little Respect Will Benefit Everybody

 

Today I was thinking about respect. I wrote R-E-S-P-E-C-T means Regard Every Single Person (as an) Especially Created Treasure. Accepting this and positively changing our attitudes and actions towards one another will stop a lot of the hostility and negativity prevalent in America.

Years ago, I ministered on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. I noticed that often the person would look away when I talked to him or her, or when they answered back. One time I told a man to stop looking down and look at me. When he looked me in the eye, tears started flowing.

I then prayed to break the oppression and layers of negativity and pain off him. With music and prophetic words flowing, one could see changes right away. I am so glad I refused to let someone God created feel unworthy just because he stank from lack of a toothbrush and a bath. This man was deserving of being treated with respect.

Respect and Appreciate Others

Respect is about value. We respect what we value or treasure. If we value others, we will never treat them as less than deserving of the respect and dignity that we desire. Learn to appreciate people who have a different culture, background, experience, and point of view than you.

Show Respect for Authority

Have a humble, submissive, and respectful attitude to those in authority in every venue – home, church, work, government, restaurants. Ladies, respect, and submit to your husbands—this is New Testament teaching (Eph 5:22).

Respect your employer. While in his house, follow his rules. Do the work he is paying you to do. Do not take his stuff home with you.

Definitely respect police officers. They are people who often deal with evil on a level most of us don’t have to. Cover them in prayer.

With respect to the President of the United States, I have prayed for every president in the last 40 years. God didn’t say to agree with them or even like them. He said to pray for all in authority. (1 Tim 2:1-2)

Do Not Insult, Accuse or Critically Judge

Insults, accusations, and critical judgments are abusive. They will cripple any person’s self-esteem. Don’t do this to anyone.

Listen

Have you noticed listen and silent are spelled with the same letters? Listen attentively when someone talks to you. Do not think about what you are going to say. Listen to the other person’s point of view. Then, respectfully respond with yours.

Honor

Respect is akin to honor. The first commandment with a promise is for children to honor their parents. The promise is (1) that it might be well with you, and (2) you may live long on the earth.

Children, highly esteem, respect, love, and subordinate to your parents in thought, word, and deed. This is right. It pleases God and releases His favor into your life.

Finally, everyone, above all else, reverence, love, and honor the Lord.

For, “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Ps 24:1)

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Are you giving others respect? Please post your comments.

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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.