Week 39: Respect - Give It to Get it.

“If you treat every person you meet as if he or she were the most important person in the world, you’ll communicate that he or she is somebody- to you.” (John C. Maxwell)

 Every person wants respect. But true respect is not by asking, it’s by earning. Nobody will genuinely respect you if you say to them ‘You! Please respect me, I’m your teacher!’ They might be externally obeyed, but internally they are rebelling against you. During my primary school, there was a teacher that were hated by many. He told us that every student who came from rural area is lazy and dumb. [That’s including me] It wasn’t a surprise that almost every student in the school doesn’t like him. After almost 1 year later, he was transfer to another school. He doesn’t respect his students; therefore in return, he doesn’t get much from them either. Respect comes by modeling. Model what you want from others.

Friendship is the greatest forms of respect. Friendship accepts people for who they are and stands by them in difficult moments. Sammy was the only friend who is by my side when everyone turned their back on me when I’m making a decision to stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Proverbs 27:9 CEV “The sweet of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still.”

Respecting differences. Stephen R. Covey writes, “It is easy and even ego-boosting to respect people similar to us. But it is valuing people different from us that unveils the noblest forms of respect.” Try to valuing people with respect regardless of their religious, races, nationality and even their status.

Avoid Gossiping. Whenever someone tells me a gossip about someone else, I will put the news to dead. Spreading a gossip is the most disgusting habits that can breakdown people’s respect to you. Honestly, do you give respect to gossip-bearer? When you gossiping, it show that you’re untrustworthy and don’t respect others. Avoid gossiping at all cost.

Cloth yourself with Humility. Sirach, ancient Hebrew philosopher once said, “Son, be humble in everything you do, and people will appreciate it more than gifts. The greater you become, the more humble you should be; then the Lord will be pleased with you.” Genuine respect is the product for genuine humility.

Keep your Self-Respect. Keep your self-respect, but remain modest. Value yourself at your true worth. There is no excuse for a person to run himself down. Nobody respect those who don’t respect themselves.

Above all, Respect the Lord. The Lord Almighty says “A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. I am your father – why don’t you honor me? I am your master – why don’t you respect me?” (Malachi 1:6) When we are filled with corruption, cheating, and not living according to His teaching, we have disgrace the Lord. Respect the Lord requires us to also respect our father and mother, brothers and sisters, spouse, others and even with our local authorities. Let me emphasis on giving respect to our local authority or human authority. In Roman 13 Paul explained that no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Show respect and honor them all. I’m not saying that we are not to voice out our concern and insisted that the wrong be righted, but in doing so, do it with respect.

Why the virtue of respect is that important?

Because “When we treat people with respect, we help them gain confidence and reveal inner potential that otherwise might go untapped.” (Stephen R. Covey)

Remember: THINK BIG gaining respect by first respecting others. START SMALL accepts people for who they are. GO DEEP nobody respect those who don’t respect themselves. Above all, respect the Lord.

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