“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; and to give his life a ransom for many. “
Mark 10:42-45
In Mark 10 and Mathew 20:21, John and James came to Jesus requesting that they sit on the right and left hand of Him in Glory. The other disciples became indignant at this. They were looking forward to Jesus becoming King and their having a noble, respected position beside Him. However, Jesus let them know what a true leader does in the kingdom. That the greatest leader doesn’t look to those around him to serve him, but instead has the heart of a servant and looks to meeting the needs of others.
Respect is something all people crave in the natural. They want to be respected. Teens often want respect from their peers. Elders want respect from their children. As believers, the bible speaks of our need to show respect to our elders, parents, those in authority over us as well as respect towards others in general. Yet it simultaneously tells us not to focus on demanding that others treat us with respect. Jesus, though He is maker of heaven and earth, the highest authority on the planet, did not come to gain respect. He said HE did not come to be served, but to serve. In fact he taught us to humble ourselves. Time and again he took the role of a servant. He said that whoever wants to be greatest must be servant to all. In fact, before going to the cross, the king of kings got on His knees and washed His disciples dirty feet (a job that servants would do). Afterwards Jesus said: “Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:12-17
As believers, we are not to fall into the trap of the world and crave respect from others. In fact, quite often others may look at our faith with disdain or disrespect. Look what happened to the blind man who was healed by Jesus. The leaders of the synagogue called him to them, because they wanted him to deny that Jesus was truly sent by God. They didn’t want to hear the truth. They wanted the man to tell them what they wanted to hear. He would not do it. Instead he told the truth about Jesus and stood up for what was right. As a result, they hurled insults at him and threw him out of the synagogue. Often times as believers, others may be disrespectful to us because we stand for the truth.
If we are focused on what others are doing to disrespect us, and how we deserve more respect, then we are focused on ourselves. We then aren’t able to walk in love and forgiveness if we continue to focus on the wrong and disrespectful attitudes of others. Instead we are to in all things and at all times think on those things which are true, honest, lovely of good report and of praise. In addition, 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love keeps no score of wrongs, it is not puffed up or prideful, not easily offended. It says love thinks no evil. If you feel you aren’t getting the respect you deserve, choose to think no evil. Walk in love and forgiveness as Jesus did. When He hung naked and bleeding on the cross He didn’t yell out condemning them for not showing respect to the King of kings. Instead, he said “Father, forgive them; for they know what they do”. Luke 23:34. As believers it is important to show respect to others as a good ambassador for Christ. However, when it comes to expecting others to give us due respect, instead be like Jesus. Humbly serve those He’s placed in your life and walk in love and God will exalt you. As you make the choice to return good for evil, you will rise above the situations others try to pull you into. You will indeed overcome evil with good and God will then be able to move on your behalf mightily.
1 Peter 5:6
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Galatians 1:10
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Mark 9:34-35
“But they held their peace; for by the way they had disputed among
themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-8 (NIV)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Galatians 5:13
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Mathew 23:10-12
“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master; even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Phillipians 2:2-8
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore god also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”
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 be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Proverbs 25:21-22
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Mathew 5:43-48
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
