Do you desire to be respected? Be respectful. Do you want someone to be merciful to you when you make a mistake? Be merciful to them. Would you like someone in authority to honor you? Honor those in authority. That includes your parents.
How can you expect others to truly appreciate and respect you when you don’t appreciate or respect them? How would you feel if you gave someone you cared about a compliment or told them in detail about something that you were excited about? But all they said was, “Okay, whatever,” or did not reply at all. You may feel deflated and disheartened. Maybe you are confused because you thought they cared about you, but now you may see they don’t care about you.
Stop and consider your own ways and actions. Search your heart and see if you are caring, respectful, compassionate, and honorable. Or if you are cold, unemotional, or heartless regarding others. Did you know that if all you care about is yourself, this closes you off to receive the kindness, love, compassion, and respect you desire?
The Word of God instructs us in all things, including what will happen if we live according to God’s ways or our own.
Jesus said, in Matthew 5:7-9 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Hebrews 13:7 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Finally, Jesus said in Matthew 7:12-14 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Those that God honors and respects are those who humble themselves, repent, and turn to do what is good, according to His righteousness.
