Respect

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Has respect gone the way of the 8-track tape player?  Do we even understand what it means to show respect?  In the dictionary the word “Respect” is defined in this way: esteem, admire, think highly of, have a high opinion of, hold in high regard, hold in (high) esteem, look up to, revere, reverence, honor.  How things have changed since I was a small boy, if someone was an adult and that may have been some one in their early twenties, they were addressed as sir or ma’am and it usually was preceded by yes or no.  If I had ever wanted to die young, all it would have taken was to call one of my adult neighbors or a friend of the family by anything other than Mr. or Mrs.  

We have become a culture that shows little respect for adults, for authority, for titles, and by becoming that kind of society we have become the losers.  But that was never God’s plan and when the people showed disrespect for Moses, God was very displeased and often in Scripture we are told to respect authority because God ordains all authority.  That being true, it is no surprise that our society is not in-step with our Father in heaven. 

Now the apostle Paul is giving us this admonishment: “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)  My dear friend and prayer partner for many years reminded me the other day that the art of communication is to say it once, and then to repeat it and then to say it one more time.  That is what the Holy Spirit has done in the Scriptures, in Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  Now I can hear you saying, what if their faith is not worthy of imitation, and God has addressed that in 1 Timothy 5:17, but before going there, may I ask you a question; why are you still under such a pastor or teacher? 

Now let us look at 1Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”  I personally have been under those who were leaders and those who were not, and I can testify that to rule well is to be a man who has a kingdom mind.   Such a man has no deception on his ability to lead a church and is more interested in God’s kingdom than in his golf game, he loves the things of God and looks to the Spirit for leadership.  Today is Thanksgiving, and I am so thankful for my pastor, Ray Still, and the other pastors serving under his leadership, they are men who have the mind of Christ, they are about His kingdom, and New Braunfels is a better place because of their leadership.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice