Respect for God and Man

Background Scripture: Leviticus 19
Lesson Scripture: Leviticus19:1-2, 11-18, 32

Introduction

Each of the souls God has created is of equal value to Him. None of us is worth either more or less than any other. This is a solid foundation on which to base our respect for our fellowman and for how God looks at us.

There is a respect that is due to every person, and there is a respect that is earned. Distinguishing between these two is helpful in understanding how to properly interact with others.

Key Verse

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? (Mal. 2:10).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Establishing the children of Israel as a nation was a divine undertaking on a truly majestic scale. The law given by God gave careful attention to manifold details. The ceremonial law was fulfilled in the redemption that came by Jesus Christ; however, many of the laws under which the nation was to function still serve as a pattern for any successful civilization today. These laws defined relationships between people and between the people and God.

The people to whom God gave these laws had experienced great hardship and persecution in the land of Egypt, but now God had favored them with a dramatic deliverance, in which they had seen his power and might exercised against their enemies. Looking back and considering their experience, we might be tempted to conclude that their faith was unusually weak. In reality, their response was typically human. No matter if we are in prosperity or adversity, Satan is always seeking to undermine the believer’s faith in God.

When God gave the Israelites the law through his prophet Moses, it conceivably brought about a sense of security. These instructions were for immediate application and were not an emergency response to wilderness travel, military conflict, or any other circumstances they were facing. The message of the law was that this was the kind of living that God would bless. This implied that if they would follow it, He would preserve and prosper them.

God gave specific instructions on how He wanted the poor, the feeble, and the strangers among them to be cared for, and through these commands He was revealing his own nature of care and compassion.

Practical Truths for Today

Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 12:13, says, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Jesus, when challenged by the scribes, said in Mark 12:29-31, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Having a true belief in God and his power and might produces a proper respect for Him. It is natural for us to respect power, but it is also typical to resist authority. Human inclination, if not subjected to God’s law, can be the cause of tremendous conflict between persons, communities, and nations. God’s plan for Israel was that they would show to the nations around them his power to bless and care for those who would follow his commands. His will is the same today; when his people live in peace and unity, they are a bright light shining in a dark world.

How are we to apply the lesson text to our lives today? We are naturally inclined to take an advantage when it will benefit our selfish interests. Comparing ourselves to others will likely cause feelings of being disadvantaged. If this is our frame of mind, we may not be aware when we are being harsh or rude to someone over whom we are seeking some advantage, whether financial, intellectual, physical, or social. We may likewise cause offense by overriding another’s God-given freedom by trying to make choices for them, either by thinking we possess superior insight or by attempting to fit others into our personal agenda. God respects our poor choices and is also very patient and longsuffering to help us through many untoward consequences we may have brought upon ourselves. No doubt, He will lead us to make good choices and will gently prompt us toward that which is right. He wants us to respond likewise toward our fellow men.

When confronted with relationship issues, we might feel our lack of understanding. These verses in the lesson text may seem simple enough by a quick reading of them, but sooner or later we realize the situations we often encounter can be difficult and complicated. This is a normal fact of life, and we need not become disheartened. If we are ready to take a step in faith in the direction we understand, God will be there to show us the next step. As we continue in obedience to scriptural principles, we will acquire godly wisdom.

In our world today, there is much emphasis on the rights of individuals. This causes much discord and division. People have different points of view of what poses a threat to themselves and their way of life. Becoming entrenched in their positions, they lose respect for people with differing points of view and become closed-minded and intractable. This has become so pervasive in the world today that it is affecting believers and Christian families with spirits of entitlement, independence, and disrespect toward authority. The spirit of protest is an evil spirit that can be very appealing to those who are discontented and rebellious and must be guarded against, as it destroys respect and appreciation for authority and our fellow man.

When Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel as God was revealing his choice for Israel’s future king, Samuel was impressed by each young man in turn as he passed before him, but God rebuked him, saying that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). When opinions and feelings are allowed to have an undue influence, our discernment of someone else’s character can easily become biased. To view all of our fellowmen worthy of honor and attention is an attitude worth cultivating and will be blessed by God.

As we go through life we will all experience a unique mixture of circumstances and relationships. The way in which we care for and respect our elderly will cause us to either be comfortable relating to them and interested in their lives or ill at ease and awkward in their presence. It is worthwhile to make the effort to teach children and youth how to show respect to the elderly. It is good for those in the prime of life to recognize old age as an achievement worthy of respect rather than as a decline in vitality and acuity. The ones who will be most aware of this will probably be the elderly themselves, but nevertheless, great respect is due the hoary head. God richly rewards all concerned when respect is graciously given and just as graciously received.

Questions

1. What is the difference between respect that is earned and respect that is due?
2. Discuss the respect shown in the account where three of David’s soldiers risked their lives to procure a drink of water from a spring for which they knew he craved. David refused to drink of it but poured it out upon the ground to the Lord (1 Chron. 11:17-19).
3. How are children best taught respect?
4. Give some other examples from the Bible where respect was shown in a special way.
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).