Don’t You Disrespect Me!
Blog / Produced by The High Calling
Respect is a word you hear a lot these days. Rich people command it; young people thump their chests and demand it; and old people complain if they don't get it. We need money and sometimes we want power, but our egos crave respect as much as our hearts crave love. Disrespect is so universally hated that the noun itself doesn't carry enough power to satisfy us. So we've made it into a slang verb.
"Don't you disrespect me!"
Respect is born when capable and serious people meet, interact, and work together. And real respect cannot be faked or coerced. It is always earned, and it can only be given, never taken.
Do you think the people you work with most desire raises, titles, corner offices, and various perks? Do you think they want hollow words of praise and longer coffee breaks? These things are nice, but quality people who take pride in their work want your respect more than these.
When you respect someone, you go out of your way to let them know that you count their work and their contribution as important. You listen to their advice, and make sure that they are included in important discussions. You count on them. You rely on them. You need them, and you don't mind saying so.
But of course, such respect is also dangerous. Admitting that you need others makes you vulnerable. Relying on others means that you must take a risk and trust that they will not let you down. Perhaps that's why Jesus made the connection between respect and faith.
Picture this scene from the seventh chapter of Luke's gospel: Jesus is in his hometown when some people rush up to him, breathless and excited. A Roman centurion of some wealth and influence has a beloved servant who is close to death. The soldier is hoping that Jesus will take the time to heal his servant. The messengers tell Jesus that the centurion is a good man who respects the children of Israel and even built them a synagogue.
Will Jesus go to heal the servant? It's a bit of a journey to his home, but of course he will. He's Jesus; that's what he does. But when he gets close to the house, a message comes from the centurion that we might paraphrase thusly:
"Lord, I did not intend for you to come all the way out here to my house. I'm a man of authority myself, and if I tell someone to do something, it gets done. I know who you are. You don’t have to be present to heal my servant. Just say the word, and I know it will be done" (Matt. 8:8-9).
Jesus was delighted by his response and told those with him that the man's respect was a sign of great faith. I think it is fascinating that Jesus linked faith and respect. Fascinating because we don't normally think of the two together. Faith is for church, isn't it? And isn't respect for Monday through Friday at work? The truth is, it will take some faith on your part if you are to have respect for others in the workplace. Don't be afraid to exercise a little bit of faith in others. Proper respect demands it, and it's the right thing to do.