Respect

What is respect?
Some student answers included kindness, not defacing property, listening, honoring other's wishes, following rules and doing what is right.

Those are all great answers! Webster's Dictionary defines respect as admiration, or acting in a way that you are aware of others and treat them in a proper way.

Are there people in your life that you don't respect? Why?
Students answered yes. The feel that these people are rude and don't deserve it.

We then read the story about Saul and David in 1 Samuel 24. Saul was the current king, and David was next in line to be king. David was not happy that Saul was king and he was not, and Saul was not happy that David wanted to take over and wanted to kill David.

⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. ⁹ He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? ¹⁰ This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’

David had respect for Saul because Saul was chosen by God. Saul did not really deserve it, especially since he tried killing David. David finally realized that everything is in God's time, and he needed to be respectful of those in charge. David would someday take his place and be a great king.

Do you respect people, even though you think they don't deserve it? Why?

What is the first commandment that Jesus asks of us? Love your God, love your neighbor (your neighbor is everyone you come in contact with.

Respect others, even if they don't respect you. Do not return fire with fire. Even if they have rules or boundaries that you think are wrong. Respectfully talk to them.

How can you show respect to someone today?