Do You Deserve Some Respect?

I’ve heard a few people comment recently about someone speaking to them “like they’re a child.” They weren’t handing out compliments to those who spoke to them as such either. So somebody said something to you that you don’t like. So what? In fact I perceived in these situations that whoever said these things to these people were actually in the right. But what if they weren’t? So what? Since one of these situations was an employee complaining about their boss, I’ll use the following scriptures to make the point: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (I Pet. 2:18-20). Now where does that leave an attitude like the one I’ve referred to? Certainly not in keeping with the will of God. I really don’t care much about what someone has to say to me or about me that isn’t particularly savory, because I know what I am and I know that the Lord is my only infallible judge. Now that’s easy to say, but there is also a reality to not being moved by what people think or say, because you are truly free from it; and you really are trusting in God to take care of those kinds of things for you. If I did not know that reality myself then I couldn’t say it, or at least I would have no true right to say it. The question is, Are we being made free from, and overcoming this world or not? (Jn. 8:32; I Jn. 5:4) If we’re incensed and holding spite about someone talking to us like a child, or like a dog for that matter, then we are not free, nor are we overcoming the spirits that the rest of the world is under. Being free means not receiving the spirits that people are moved by toward us. Overcoming the world means the same thing. Let them keep those spirits. We need to just keep being who God has called us to be, meaning followers of Jesus, "who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet. 2:23). If you aren’t able, then pray through until you are able. He is able to make us able.

I love the admonition in Romans 12:19-21: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Wow! All I can say is AMEN! God really is the “Judge of all the earth,” and he really will take care of injustices done to us if we stay out of his way and let him do it (Gen. 18:25). If we’re going to take up our own cause, whether in word or in deed, then he will not take care of it because we’ve already done it our way and blocked him out. In that case we lose, even if we have appeared on the surface to win. It’s only pride that is going to carry some kind of spiteful spirit about someone speaking down to us. In fact, most people are so defensive that they think someone is speaking down to them even when they aren’t. It’s okay with me if someone thinks I’m an idiot, or even says it. Why? Because I know I'm not one, and I know that God knows that. Why let someone’s ignorant and foolish words trouble me? I enjoy peace too much, and it feels a lot better just going ahead and feeling love for somebody, regardless of what they’re doing. I’ve been on both sides of that track, and I feel a lot more comfortable being on the right side, the one that God is pleased with. Jesus routinely spoke some hard things to a lot of people, and never bothered to explain himself either. One woman came to Jesus for help with her daughter who was vexed by a demon, and Jesus refused to help her, even calling her a dog. She didn’t flare up and ask him who did he think he was, talking to her like that. She humbly agreed with him, and as a result Jesus marveled at her faith and delivered her daughter from the demon, long distance (Mat. 15:22-28). What do you suppose she would have gotten from him if she had told him her rights, and let him know that she deserved some respect? And what do you suppose we are going to get from him if we have that kind of proud, worldly attitude today? I can just tell you my friend that he hasn’t changed (Heb. 13:8). God bless.