Just a Thought: Giving respect is another way of getting respect. Realizing people have value and worth is important to understand if we are to treat others with respect. We don’t just show respect to others because of their positions of authority or because they are our boss. We should learn to show respect to others because we value them as people. Showing respect to others shows them we care about them. Showing respect to others shows them we acknowledge they have worth. And showing respect to others is another way of getting people to show respect toward us. People have a tendency to live up or down to our expectations of them. So, if we treat people respectfully, they will more often than not, act respectfully. And, besides all of this, Paul says this is yet another sign of godly living. In his letter to those at Rome, he encourages them to display the sincere love of God toward one another. One of the ways he says we do this is to “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Rom 12:10) Loving others and showing them, honor (respect) is an act of godliness. This is something we do by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Not all people are loveable (including us sometimes). All people don’t act respectful all the time (including us). But all people are worthy of God’s love and ours as a godly people. How hard is it for you to show others respect (even if you feel they don’t deserve it)? How much more do you desire others to show you respect rather than you show respect to others? Giving respect is another way of getting respect. And, showing others, proper respect is a display of godliness. How much godliness is on display through you by the way you show others you respect their value and worth?
