We are looking at the subject of Initiating Good Relationships and today I want to talk about ‘Respect.’
Do you know why David was so much loved in Israel even as a youth? He had respect for others! The Bible says that he behaved himself wisely in all his ways (1 Samuel 18:14). David respected Saul, even though Saul wanted to kill him. When he had opportunity to kill Saul and escape he said, “No I can’t touch God’s anointed.” But one day he disrespected a man called Uriah; his own staff. David took the man’s wife and schemed his death, but he did not escape the consequence. He was disrespected in return by his own son who drove him off the throne (2 Samuel chapters 11, 12, 15).
Men who are fond of disrespecting others, including their wives, will get it back some day; they cannot escape being disrespected in return. I heard of a junior officer that was being harassed by his superior in the public. He did all he could to appease the senior officer but the man kept abusing and calling him names. So he removed his uniform, threw it away and slapped the senior officer. On lookers who were watching them said, “Very good, it serves him right!” Please respect others. Even if you are a superior, don’t use it as an advantage to disrespect your subordinates or to deprive them of their rights. If nobody is respecting you, then ask yourself, “Do I respect people?” Because the measure with which you mete to others, the same will be used to mete back to you (Luke 6:38). Respect is earned not self-imposed or demanded; as you give it, you get the same in return. So, let ‘respect’ be your watchword in your relationship with others. Don’t shout down other people’s views. Let them express their foolishness as you once expressed yours before you became wise. You were foolish yesterday, you only got wise today so give others room to grow as well.
It is not age or education that earns you respect, it is your wise behaviour towards others. You can be a driver and be more respected than the one you are driving. There are people who are charming while others are contemptible, simply because of their attitudes. What most people call persecution is often times a natural reaction of others to their foolish behaviour because a man who does not know how to relate well with people will naturally suffer rejection. Wrong presentation kills good ideas. So, learn to present yourself in a way that compels people to open up to you. Look for how to gain acceptability anywhere you find yourself, not through eye service or by imposing yourself on people, but through wise behavior.
Meditate on these: Psalm 49:20, Romans 12:10, Colossians 4:5 It is one of the keys that you need to be able to relate well with people. If you have respect for others you will not have any problem relating with them. Whosoever you respect will respect you in return, no matter the difference in age or cadre. If you respect your parents, your children will respect you in return. You know, even children need to be respected. If in the name of correction and upbringing you keep humiliating your children till they lose their sense of worth and dignity, they will grow up not knowing how to respect others. So, respect them.
