Principles: Respect

Personal caring that goes beyond friendship, loyalty and respect.

Creates in Self:
Politeness
Sensitivity
Wisdom
Happiness
Growth
Safety

Creates in Society:
Fairness
Success
Security
Cooperation
Caring
Obedience

Thoughts, Goals and Meditations about Respect:
* I appreciate wisdom and growth
* My respect is necessary
* I am happy when respected
* Sensitivity creates safety
* Politeness is expected
* Caring shows my respect
* Courtesy and a simile will open all doors
* We respect what we value
* Do for others what you would do for yourself
* Respecting others is the beginning of self-respect
* Develop respect with achievements
* Fairness with each other equals mutual respect
* Shared respect and understanding builds unity
* You will be respected for doing your best
* Respect also makes way for others
* Growth is always respected
* You must work for respect

Scriptures and text on the Principle of Respect

Romans 12:10 -respect to each other: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. -

1 Peter 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Leviticus 19:32 - respect to the aged: Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 25:6 - respect to rulers: Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

Luke 14:10 - respect to the army: But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Isaiah 17:7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

It is important that this principle is not mistaken for the concept of "favoritism" and "Partiality"> The word "respect" is often used to convey this concept.

PARTIAL, PARTIALITY
The translation of several terms in the original. Heb. nakar means "to scrutinize" and therrefore to care for, or respect; it is used with panim, "face," to convey the idea of showing partiality toward someone <Deut 1:17; 16:19; Prov 24:23; 28:21>. Heb. nasa', to "lift," is similarly used in combination with panim to mean :be partial" <Lev. 19:15>. The Gk. verb prosopolempteo <James 2:9> is derived from two others meaning to "accept the face"; and both have the idea of partiality. This is contrary to the Bible, for God commanded that the judges should pronounce judgment without partiality ("respect of person, "KJV; see <Lev. 19:15; Deut 1:17; 16:19>). God is declared to be impartial or without favoritism (prosopoleptes, <Acts 10:34>; prosopolempsia, <Rom. 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col. 3:25>); and Christians are warned against partiality (prosopolempsia, <James 2:1>; epiblepo, <2:3>; prosopolempteo, <2:9>; cf. <Prov. 24:23; 28:21>).

Undue inclination toward one or another party (Gk. prosklisis) is cautioned against in <1 Tim. 5:21>. ~(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

RESPECT OF PERSONS
re-spekt': The phrase nasa' phanim, means literally, "lift up the face," and, among other translations, is rendered indifferently "accept" or "respect the person" in the King James Version (contrast Pr 18:5 and Pr 24:23). As applied to a (prostrate) suppliant, the phrase means "receive him with favor," and is so used in 1Sa 25:35; Mal 1:8-9 (compare Ge 19:21, etc.). By a shift in force the phrase came to mean "accept the person instead of the cause" or "show partiality" (Job 13:8,10 the American Standard Revised Version), and is so used commonly. A literal translation into Greek gave lambano prosopon (Sirach 35:13 (32:16); Lu 20:21; Ga 2:6), with the noun prosopolempsia, "face-taking" (Ro 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; Jas 2:1), rendered uniformly "respect of persons" in English Versions of the Bible. A noun prosopolemptes, "respecter of persons," and a verb prosopolempteo, are found Ac 10:34; Jas 2:9. God's judgment rests solely on the character of the man and will be influenced by no worldly (Eph 6:9) or national (Ro 2:11) considerations. ~(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia)

Proverbs 28:21
To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Dishonest partiality leads men who have enslaved themselves to it to transgress, even when the inducement is altogether disproportionate. A “piece of bread” was proverbial at all times as the most extreme point of poverty (compare the marginal reference). ~Barnes Notes

James 2:9
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

4380. prosopolepteo pros-o-pol-ape-teh'-o from 4381; to favor an individual, i.e. show partiality:--have respect to persons.

James 2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.

4382. prosopolepsia pros-o-pol-ape-see'-ah from 4381; partiality, i.e. favoritism:--respect of persons.

By contrast notice the correct use of and reference to this Godly principle:

Isaiah 17:7
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.

Psalms 119:15
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

5027 nabat naw-bat' a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care:--(cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.

Respect for God's Authority
The standard of what is acceptable in religion for many is whether it satisfies the individual. Many "shop" for a religion that meets their personal preferences, treating the Scriptures as a salad bar-- picking things they like and passing over others. Many declare satisfaction with the course they have chosen in religion without ever considering the question, "Is God satisfied with my religion?" The whole conclusion is not, serve God as you please, but "Fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13). Our purpose in daily activities and in worship should be to strive to please God. Those who truly seek to serve God will not be satisfied until they do this. We must be willing to test our practices and beliefs to see if they agree with the Scriptures. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2Cor. 13:5).
The only way to please God in all that we do is to follow His revealed will-- to simply read and study the Scriptures and follow them in all we do, not adding to them or taking away (2Jn. 9; Deut. 4:2). Those who fail to do this lack respect for the authority of God as Lord and Master. The inspired apostle declared, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord" (Col.3:17). To "do all in the name of the Lord" means to respect the authority of the Lord in everything. We must have God's authority for all that we do and that authority must be established from the Scriptures; for it is there that God has revealed His will for us.

So, our personal morality, conduct, religious beliefs, and things practiced in worship must be based on book, chapter, and verse. One may be satisfied with the manner in which they live and worship, while God may not be, making life and worship worthless before the Lord. As Jesus warned, "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:8,9). Therefore, let us search the Scriptures to establish authority for all that we believe and practice showing respect God's authority. ~Paul Smithson

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