“To be respected is better than having silver and gold” (PROV. 22:1).
1. Why is it so important to feel respected? (Proverbs 22:1).
It's very important to feel respected because we all like it and it makes us happy to be treated with respect. When others treat us with respect and consideration, we feel appreciated and happy.
That is why Proverbs 22:1 states that “being respected is better than having silver and gold,” that is, it is more valuable than having riches, and its positive effect on our lives is much deeper than any material possession.
2, 3. Why is it not always easy to respect others, and what will we see in this article?
It is not always easy to respect others because we see their imperfections and we live in a time when respect is scarce. Even so, we want to be respectful because Jehovah asks us to honor “people of all sorts.”
In this article we will see what it means to respect others and how to show respect to family, brothers and sisters and to those who are not Witnesses, especially in difficult situations.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RESPECT OTHERS?
4. What does it mean to respect others?
Respecting others involves how we see a person. By respecting others, we consider them as someone who deserves our attention and esteem, often because of their qualities, achievements, or position.
Honor—which in the Bible is linked to respect—is reflected in how we treat a person. We honor others by treating them with dignity and in a way that shows we value them. For that treatment to be sincere, it must come from the heart.
5. What motivates us to respect others?
Our desire to obey and please Jehovah motivates us to respect others. Although some people only respect those who “earn it,” we, as God’s servants, understand that respect does not depend on what others do, but on something far more important: our love for Jehovah and our desire to please him. That is why we respect everyone, including those in authority, just as he commands.
6. Is it possible to respect someone who disrespects us? (See also the image).
Yes, it is possible to respect someone who disrespects us. Bible examples show this: Jonathan respected Saul even though Saul humiliated him, Hannah responded respectfully to High Priest Eli despite his accusation that she was drunk, and Paul treated the men of Athens with respect even though they insulted him. These accounts show that deep love for Jehovah and a desire not to displease him can motivate us to maintain respect even in difficult situations.
ILLUSTRATION
Jonathan, Saul and the Israelite soldiers with their swords, spears and shields fighting on a battlefield.
Although his father, King Saul, humiliated him, Jonathan continued to defend and support him. (See paragraph 6.)
LET'S RESPECT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS
7. What things can make it difficult to treat our family with respect?
Treating our family with respect can be difficult for several reasons. Because we spend so much time together, we know both their strengths and weaknesses, and this can create tension. Furthermore, some family members may be ill, suffer from anxiety, or say and do hurtful things. In other cases, there may be a constant lack of respect, turning the home into a place of conflict instead of a peaceful haven. All of these factors complicate living together and make maintaining respect a challenge.
8. Why should we show respect to our family members? (1 Timothy 5:4, 8).
We should show respect to our family members because doing so is part of our devotion to God. According to 1 Timothy 5:4, 8, caring for and honoring our family is not only a moral obligation but also a way of demonstrating our love for Jehovah. He is the Creator of the family, so when we treat our loved ones with honor, we are actually honoring God. This is a very important reason to show respect to our family members.
9. How can husband and wife treat each other with respect? (See also the pictures.)
Husbands and wives can treat each other with respect in several ways. A husband shows respect when he values his wife both in public and in private, never humiliates or mistreats her, and strives to speak to her calmly and with dignity even when the situation is difficult.
For her part, the wife shows respect to her husband by speaking well of him to others and avoiding sarcasm, mockery, and hurtful comments. Both attitudes strengthen the marriage and reflect consideration, patience, and true love.
ILLUSTRATION
Image series: A married couple treating each other with respect. 1. The husband speaks affectionately to his wife while they cook together. 2. The wife speaks well of her husband to some guests while he serves food to an older brother.
When we respect our family members, we are honoring Jehovah, the Creator of the family. (See paragraph 9.)
10. How can young people show that they respect their parents?
Young people can show respect for their parents by obeying them, speaking to them respectfully, and taking care of them when they begin to need more attention. They also show respect by honoring them even if their parents have flaws or don't always treat them well.
Maria's example shows that we should ask Jehovah for help and remember that honoring our parents demonstrates respect for him, the Creator of the family. This can give young people the strength to continue respecting their parents in any situation.
LET US RESPECT OUR BROTHERS
11. Why can we sometimes find it difficult to treat our siblings with respect?
It can be difficult to treat our brothers and sisters with respect because, although they strive to live by what the Bible says, they can sometimes be unkind, judge us unfairly, or do things that irritate us. When we feel we have reason to complain about someone, maintaining respect can become a real challenge.
12. Why is it important to respect our brothers? (2 Peter 2:9-12).
It is important to respect our brothers and sisters because, as the example at 2 Peter 2:9-12 shows, even angels—being perfect—avoid speaking offensively or disrespectfully and leave it to Jehovah to judge. If they show such respect, we should too, especially when it comes to our brothers and sisters. When we honor them and avoid judging or speaking ill of them, we demonstrate respect for Jehovah, who asks us to take the initiative in honoring them.
13, 14. In what ways do we show respect for our brothers and sisters? (See also the pictures.)
Elders can show respect by teaching with love and, when it is necessary to correct someone, doing so with kindness and without letting frustration get the better of them.
The sisters—and indeed everyone—show respect by avoiding speaking ill of others, which helps to maintain an atmosphere of peace and unity in the congregation.
We all show respect for the elders when we appreciate and support the work they do in conducting meetings, organizing the preaching work, and helping those who need encouragement or correction.
As in Rocío's case, we show greater respect for our siblings when we recognize that our own attitudes, such as pride, can hinder our relationships. Prayer, reflection, and humility help us to change and show genuine respect.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. An older sister reading the Bible and meditating on all that the elders do. 2. An elder giving a talk at a congregation meeting. 3. The same elder helping a brother in a wheelchair. 4. The same elder shoveling snow from the entrance of the Kingdom Hall.
We can all show respect for the elderly by cooperating with them and expressing our appreciation for what they do. (See paragraphs 13 and 14.)
LET US RESPECT THOSE WHO ARE NOT WITNESSES
15. Why can we sometimes find it difficult to treat non-Witnesses with respect?
It can be difficult to treat non-Witnesses with respect because, in the preaching, many people show no interest in God or the Bible, and some even reject our message because of beliefs they have held since childhood.
Furthermore, in daily life we may encounter bosses, teachers, or colleagues who are very strict, demanding, or difficult to deal with. Over time, these situations can cause us to lose respect for them and make it difficult for us to treat them the way we would like to be treated.
16. Why is it important to respect those who do not yet serve Jehovah? (1 Peter 2:12; 3:15).
It is important to respect those who do not yet serve Jehovah because he observes how we treat everyone, even those who do not share our faith. According to 1 Peter 2:12 and 3:15, our respectful conduct can positively influence them and even lead them to glorify God.
Therefore, when we explain or defend our beliefs, we should do so with gentleness and deep respect, as if Jehovah were present, since he sees and hears everything. This is a powerful reason to show respect to those who do not yet serve Jehovah.
17. In what ways do we show respect for those who are not Witnesses?
We demonstrate humility in preaching by not seeking to appear superior because we know more about the Bible. Rather, we remember that people are precious to God and consider them more important than ourselves.
Avoiding responding with insults if someone insults us for our beliefs and resisting the urge to reply sarcastically or hurtfully. If we say something inappropriate unintentionally, we apologize immediately.
In the workplace, we demonstrate respect by being good workers, being diligent, focusing on the positive aspects of our colleagues and bosses, and maintaining a cooperative attitude.
By being honest and working wholeheartedly, we show that we respect others, even if they don't always agree with us. In this way, we may not please everyone, but we do please Jehovah.
18. Why is it worthwhile to treat others with respect?
It is worthwhile to treat others with respect because, by respecting our family members and our spiritual family, we honor Jehovah. Furthermore, we help others to glorify God, since our respectful conduct can positively influence those who are not Witnesses.
By treating others with respect, we receive blessings from Jehovah, who promises to honor those who honor him, even if some people do not show us respect. In short, respect benefits others, honors God, and brings us blessings.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
How can we show that we respect our family members?
We must remember that honoring our family members is a way of honoring Jehovah, and we should view respect for family as part of our devotion to God, which motivates us to act with patience and love.
Showing respect for our family members involves kind treatment, care, patience, and constant appreciation, even in the face of difficulties or flaws, seeing this as a way of honoring God.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
A husband shows respect to his wife by demonstrating appreciation to her both in public and in private, avoiding hitting, humiliating her, or saying things that make her feel bad.
The wife shows respect to her husband by speaking respectfully and kindly, avoiding insults, mockery, sarcasm, or offensive names, and striving to communicate in a calm and understanding manner.
We show respect for our parents by obeying and honoring them by speaking to them respectfully, helping them, and showing consideration for their well-being, even if they don't change how they treat us. Furthermore, we should take good care of them, especially if they have illnesses, anxiety, or require more help as they age.
How can we show that we respect our siblings?
We can show that we respect our brothers and sisters by being kind and considerate to them, avoiding gossip, slander, and unfair criticism, cooperating with the elders, and showing appreciation for their work.
It also involves being humble, controlling frustration, and striving to apply Bible counsel, even when it is difficult, remembering that respecting our brothers is a way of honoring Jehovah.
How can we show respect for those who are not Witnesses?
We can show respect to non-Witnesses by treating them with kindness, being humble, and avoiding giving the impression that we are superior. This includes speaking gently, not responding with sarcasm or insults, and apologizing if we make mistakes.
In addition, we should be diligent and honest at work or school, and focus on the positive qualities of others. By doing so, we show that we value people and honor Jehovah, even if they do not always treat us with respect.
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