Respect
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One aspect of South Charlotte Baptist Academy is teaching, and seeking to instill, character into our students.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
Each week or two the entire Academy will focus on a specific character trait. Recently, the character trait that we focused on was that of “Respect.” For some reason, though, this character trait seemed more difficult than most. It seemed that, the more we discussed and talked about the character trait of “respect,” the less the students seemed to respect the other students.
Maybe it is because we have been focusing on “respect” in the Academy but it seem to have noticed that “respect” is lacking even among adults - Christian adults.
This past week I was checking out the website of business that is owned by a professing Christian. (No, it is no one that is a member of South Charlotte Baptist Church!) A customer left a very poor review of this business. Unfortunately, this owner responded in an inappropriate manner.
It seems that our world doesn’t understand what “Respect” is nor, for that matter, how to show respect.
At the beginning of this current school year, a 10-year-old boy in North Carolina was punished for calling his fifth-grade teacher “ma’am” after she told him not to address her with that term. The boy was disciplined by having to write the word “ma’am” four times on each line of a piece of notebook paper, covering both sides. The boy’s parents said that they had taught their son to use “ma’am” or “sir” when addressing adults as a sign of respect.
However, that is a minor incident.
This past Friday, police were called to a disturbance at Washington state middle school basketball tournament. The sheriff’s department said in a statement,
“Three deputies arrived on scene and were immediately met with verbal hostilities from the large group of teenagers, to include racial slurs, cursing and threats of assault.”
33 law enforcement units eventually responded to the scene at this public middle school.
One officer said, “It was really crazy really quickly.”
When it was all said and done, nine teenagers were arrested on charges that include trespass, assault, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
I like one comment that was posted along with the article, “What started it? A team lost and wanted a larger ‘Participation’ trophy?”
While there seems to be a demand for respect - everyone wants it - there seems to be very little willingness to give respect in our world today.
What is “Respect?”
What is “Respect?”
In the dictionary, “respect” is defined as...
High or special regard: esteem; the quality or state of being esteemed
That word, “esteem,” is defined as...
To prize; to set a high value on; to regard with reverence, respect or friendship
Notice the command that we have been given in Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
We should set a “high value” upon others. In fact, we should set a higher value on others than we do on ourselves.
There are a number of passages of Scripture that we could use to discuss this principle of respect - how to place a higher value on others than we do on ourselves. However, we are only going to look at one of them and I would simply like to share three truths from that passage.
Turn to and read Matthew 7:12.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Luke also recorded this for us in...
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
We call this the “Golden Rule.”
In these next few minutes, allow me to share three truths and three treatments!
Truth #1
Truth #1
You are only responsible for yourself.
I will have to tell you; this is probably one of the most difficult truths to master. Most individuals, it seems, have an innate desire to control others.
You are only responsible for how you treat others.
You are not responsible for how others treat you.
This is true in a family setting. This is true in a business setting. This is true in a church family setting.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Truth #2
Truth #2
You should not treat others in the way that they treat you.
Unfortunately, this our natural, sinful tendency.
When someone mistreats us, we want to mistreat them.
When someone is unkind to us, we want to be unkind to them.
If someone is hateful to us, we want to be hateful to them.
Joseph is truly an example of these first two truths. Joseph could not control how his brothers, or Potiphar, or Potiphar’s wife, or Pharaoh’s butler treated him. Joseph could only control how himself; his actions and his attitudes.
How do you suppose Joseph’s life would have turned out if he had kept burning a desire to “get even” with those who had wronged him? His brothers had wronged him. Potiphar wronged him. Potiphar’s wife wronged him. Pharaoh’s butler wronged him. And yet, we never see Joseph attempting to “get even” with these individuals. In fact, we see quite the opposite.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Turn to and read Romans 12:17-21.
Aren’t you glad that Christ has not and does not treat us in the way we have treated Him?
Turn to and read Isaiah 53:1-7.
Christ was despised (regarded as worthless).
Christ was rejected.
We esteemed Him not.
He bore our punishment. He bore our sin.
Christ was oppressed.
Christ was afflicted.
Christ was slaughtered.
In spite of all of this, 2x in vs. 7 it says the Christ opened not His mouth!
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
How unlike us?!?! When we are “dis-respected” we are quick to open our mouths and let everyone know how “unfair” we’ve been treated!
Truth #3
Truth #3
Treating others in the way you desire to be treated is one of the most basic things you can do.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Do you remember our theme from last year? Back to Basics?
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
You are only responsible for yourself.
You should not treat others in the way which they treat you.
Treating others in the way you desire to be treated is one of the most basic things you can do.
So...
How should we treat others?
How should we treat others?
Suppose you like Brussel sprouts and you decide, one evening, that you are going to make dinner for the pastor and his family. Since, you like Brussel sprouts and would love it if someone made you a dinner of Brussel sprouts, to follow the Golden Rule means that you should make the pastor and his family of dinner of Brussel sprouts. Right? That is what Matthew 7:12 states? Correct?
I’m so thankful that is not what Matthew 7:12 states!
Turn to and read Ephesians 4:29-32.
Quickly, allow me to give you three ways in which you can show respect to others and at the same time fulfill Matthew 7:12.
Treatment #1
Treatment #1
Use edifying words. Words that build up.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Treatment #2
Treatment #2
Be kind in actions and attitudes.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Treatment #3
Treatment #3
Be forgiving.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
This treatment goes along with Truth #2 - Don’t treat others in the way that they treat you.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Three truths; three statements…However, we can only hope to accomplish them if this is true...
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We only hope to accomplish any of this as we are completely yielded to and controlled by the Spirit of God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.