A Word (or four) On Respect

What is respect? Is it something just for certain people, like husbands and fathers?

I don't think so. I think it's for everyone. I think, especially, for anyone you have any sort of "relationship" with.

What does respect look like? It seems like some untangible state of mind that is only attainable when you feel a certain way.
I don't believe that's what it is. I believe it's a choice and a concious decision to respect someone.

Most people think that if they have friendships and show their friends how important they are in their lives that that is respect. But is it respect to cling to someone and not listen to what they say? To desperately hold onto to something you maybe think you're loosing without choosing to do what your friend asks of you?

I think respect equals doing what someone needs regardless of how you feel. Trusting them enough to believe what they tell you. Doing what they ask when it makes you feel devastated to do it.

I think it also means being the person, sometimes, who asks the thing that is devastating of the other - being willing to risk loosing the relationship in order to obey God's Word. After all, if your relationship with the person is disobedient to God, then I guarantee you, it's not a healthy relationship for either party to be involved in.

Respect does not equal doing what feels good. Respect does not equal making someone happy. It means obeying God and it equals deferring your preference to God's will and the other person. Respect means valuing a person. It means valuing what they need and what will benefit them before God. It means acting circumspectly in order benifit the person by obeying God and helping them to, by your actions. It means not leading them into sin because it's something that feels good to you.

It means sacrificing yourself on the alter of God's Word and will - both His will for you, and also for the other person. It means being willing to do what feels terrible to you if it's what you believe God is asking for the sake of the other person.

It doesn NOT (this is a rant, now) equal disregarding what your friend tells you and continuing to chase after whatever you want. It does NOT equal going to a person for advice, pretending to agree, and then going out and doing the opposite while pretending to agree with the advice-giver. It does NOT equal ignoring what someone is asking of you. It DOES equal listening, deference, submission to God and God's leading both in your life and your freind's life.