Reverence & Respect
There are some people that I will always show respect for because of the office they hold. There are still people who serve in high levels of government that are worthy of respect for sure. I respect people who have gone on before me and been willing to share the mistakes they’ve made as well as the secrets to their success. I’ve also seen people who are very worthy of respect treated with tremendous disrespect. Respect is a delicate but important character trait. People who don’t respect others as a general rule, probably don’t even respect themselves. I’m pretty sure that I learned a lot about respect when I went to kindergarten. I learned a lot about respect in my first job opportunities. Respect for others can build lasting relationships for sure.
Nehemiah learns that some of his fellow, wealthy, countrymen are taking advantage of the poorer people among them. They are leveraging their land and abusing them financially instead of helping. He gathers together a huge meeting and calls them out. They accept his challenge of dropping the mortgage liens on their fellow countrymen and return all that they’ve taken from back to them. He is then appointed governor and chooses to lead by example. Check this out…
14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year – twelve years – neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors – those preceding me – placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. (Nehemiah 5:14-16 NIV)
I do believe respect and reference are related terms. I do believe however that reverence is reserved for God. I don’t think that I should have more reverence to any human on the planet over reverence for God. I also don’t believe I can show reverence for God without respect first. I do believe it’s honorable to show respect and reverence before God in everything I do. I also believe that I should live my life out of respect and reverence for God. Check this out…
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)
I can look at my task list or things to do much differently when I’m living and working out of respect and reverence for God than when I’m just trying to “check everything off”. I want to live and work out of respect and reverence for God.
Pressing On!
Dwayne