RESPECT
Respect is recognizing someone else’s worth, honouring them for what they have done and for who they are. In a very real sense, it is a gift you confer on someone, a gift of valuing them highly. To honour and respect others requires humility on our part, because we are making others look good without trying to make ourselves look good at the same time.

WHO IS WORTHY OF RESPECT?

YAHVEH IS WORTHY OF GREAT RESPECT.
“‘Do not come any closer,’ YAHVEH told him. ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.’” (Exodus 3:5) At YAHVEH’s Command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before YAHVEH. YAHVEH is our Friend, but He is also our sovereign Adonai. To approach Him frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity. When you come to YAHVEH in worship, do you approach Him casually or do you come as though you were an invited guest before a king? If necessary, adjust your attitude so it is suitable for approaching a Holy Most High King.

THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE WORTHY OF RESPECT.
“But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. ‘ADONAI knows I shouldn’t have done it,’ he said to his men. ‘It is a serious thing to attack our ADONAI’s anointed one, for ADONAI Himself has chosen him.’” (1 Samuel 24:5-6) David had great respect for Saul, in spite of the fact that Saul was trying to kill him. Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against YAHVEH, David still respected the position he held as YAHVEH’s anointed king. David knew he would one day be king and he also knew it was not right to strike down the man YAHVEH had placed on the throne. If he assassinated Saul, he would be setting a precedent for his own opponents to remove him some day. Romans 13:1-7 teaches that YAHVEH has placed the government and its leaders in power. We may not know why but like David, we are to respect the positions and roles of those to whom YAHVEH has given authority. There is one exception however. Because YAHVEH is our Highest Authority, we should not allow a leader to pressure us to violate YAHVEH’s Law.

THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO YAHVEH ARE WORTHY OF RESPECT.
“The high priest and his friends, who were Sadducees, reacted with violent jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the jail.” (Acts 5:17-18) The religious leaders were jealous: Peter and the apostles were already commanding more respect than they had ever received. The difference however, was that the religious leaders demanded respect and reverence for themselves; the apostles’ goal was to bring respect and reverence to YAHVEH. The apostles were respected not because they demanded it, but because they deserved it.

HOW DO I GAIN RESPECT?
Jude 1:20: “You dear friends must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith.” Matthew 7:12: “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.” Romans 2:10: “There will be glory and honour and peace from YAHVEH for all who do good.” 1 Kings 13:8: “Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you.” We gain respect in much the same way that we show it; building our lives on YAHVEH’s Word, treating others the way we would like to be treated, not compromising our character and standing up for truth no matter what.

HOW DO I SHOW RESPECT TO YAHVEH?
Leviticus 19:30: “show reverence toward My sanctuary, for I am ADONAI.” Deuteronomy 10:12: “What does ADONAI your Eloheinu require of you? He requires you to fear Him, to live according to His will, to love and worship Him with all your heart and soul.” 2 Kings 17:36: “Worship only ADONAI, who brought you out of Egypt with such mighty miracles and power. You must worship Him and bow before Him; offer sacrifices to Him alone.” Psalm 96:4-9: “O nations of the world, recognize ADONAI; recognize that ADONAI is glorious and strong. Give to ADONAI the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship Him. Worship ADONAI in all His Holy Splendour. Let all the earth tremble before Him.” Hebrews 12:28-29: “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please YAHVEH by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. For our YAHVEH is a consuming fire.” We should show our respect for YAHVEH by serving and worshiping Him with reverence.

Psalm 22:23: “Praise ADONAI, all you who fear Him! Honour Him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show Him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!” Isaiah 33:13: “you that are near, acknowledge my might!” Revelation 19:5: “Praise our Eloheinu, all His servants, from the least to the greatest, all who fear Him.” One way to show YAHVEH our respect is by praising Him for what He has done and for Who He is. Ecclesiastes 5:1: “As you enter the house of YAHVEH, keep your ears open and your mouth shut!” Habakkuk 2:20: “ADONAI is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” Zephaniah 1:7: “Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign ADONAI.” Keeping silence in YAHVEH’s presence shows respect for Him. Exodus 20:20: “‘Don’t be afraid,’ Moses said, ‘for YAHVEH has come in this way to show you His Awesome Power. From now on, let your fear of Him keep you from sinning!’” Our reverence for YAHVEH should keep us from sinning. Leviticus 22:32: “Do not treat My Holy Name as common and ordinary. I must be treated as holy by the people of Israel. It is I, your ADONAI, who makes you holy.”

Respect for YAHVEH means that we show reverence for His Name. Psalm 115:11: “All you who fear our ADONAI, trust our ADONAI! He is your helper; He is your shield.” When we trust in YAHVEH we show that we truly respect Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Here is my final conclusion: Fear YAHVEH and obey His Commands, for this is the duty of every person.” Obedience to YAHVEH is a way to respect Him. 2 Chronicles 19:6-9: “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please your ADONAI.” Nehemiah 5:15: “This was quite a contrast to the former governors who had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides a pound of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because of my fear of YAHVEH, I did not act that way.” If we truly respect YAHVEH, we should treat other people with fairness and justice. Acts 10:2: “He was a devout man who feared the YAHVEH of Israel, as did his entire household. He gave generously to charity.” Giving to charity is a way to show our reverence for YAHVEH.

HOW DO WE SHOW RESPECT TO OTHERS?
Luke 10:30-37: “Then a despised Samaritan came along and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds.” Romans 12:10: “Take delight in honouring each other.” Philippians 2:3: “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” 1 Peter 2:17: “Love your Christian brothers and sisters.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12: “Honour those who are your leaders in our ADONAI’s work.” Romans 13:7: “Give to everyone what you owe them.” 1 Corinthians 8:1: “It is love that really builds up the church.” James 2:1: “How can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach if you favour some people more than others?” Respect involves showing more concern for people than agendas, thinking highly of others, building them up in love and treating everyone with fairness and integrity.

REPUTATION
We all have a reputation, whether we like it or not. Whether we intentionally try to project a certain image or couldn’t care less what others think, people do form an opinion of us through our behaviour, personality or abilities. A good reputation can help us make friends and get jobs and have respect from others. A bad reputation can also help us make friends (with others of ill repute) or leave us isolated, shunned or disrespected. The Bible encourages us to build our reputation on solid character rather than on external image. A reputation built on image without substance eventually becomes a crumbling facade.

HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE A GOOD REPUTATION?

A GOOD REPUTATION COMES FROM OBEYING YAHVEH’S WORD.
“If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations. When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim, ‘What other nation is as wise and prudent as this!’” (Deuteronomy 4:6) Some people work hard to make others think they are smart. The books they carry and the facts they quote are impressive. But Moses said that a reputation for wisdom comes by obeying YAHVEH’s Word. This may not be the easiest or most glamorous way to earn a reputation, but it is the most authentic. Do you fall into the trap of trying to make others think you are intelligent because of what you know or pretend to know? Obeying YAHVEH’s Word will give you a far greater reputation, because it’s not just what you know, but what you do that really counts.

A GOOD REPUTATION COMES FROM CONSISTENT LIVING.
“Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. ‘Why are you being so kind to me?’ she asked. ‘I am only a foreigner.’ ‘Yes, I know,’ Boaz replied. ‘But I also know about the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.’” (Ruth 2:10-11) Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities: she was hardworking, loving, kind, faithful and brave. These qualities gained for her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life. Wherever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, in church. A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in-no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION?
2 Corinthians 8:18-24: “We are anxious that no one should find fault with the way we are handling this generous gift.” We must take care to build a reputation of integrity so the ministry of the gospel is not hindered. Matthew 6:1-18: “Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired.” Yeshua warns us not to pursue spirituality in order to impress others. 2 Peter 1:5-9: “Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence.” Any reputation we strive to achieve should result from being fully committed to building spiritual character in our life.

HOW CAN A BAD REPUTATION BE CHANGED?
1 Peter 2:11-12: “They will see your honourable behaviour and they will believe and give honour to YAHVEH.” The surest way to influence the way others think of you is by your good behaviour. Deuteronomy 4:5-8: “If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations.” Obedience to YAHVEH brings a reputation for wisdom and intelligence. Mark 2:15-17: “They said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with such scum?” Yeshua doesn’t accept us on the basis of our reputation, but because His love can transform sinners. 3 John 1:3-6: “Some of the brothers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living in the truth.” May we earn the reputation of living according to the standards of the gospel for purity and truth.