Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Respect your elders

I'm sure all of you have heard the saying,
"Respect your elders".
Did you just think that it meant to respect old people???
That's sort of what I thought when I was young.
According to
Wikipedia, Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, and Easton on-line Bible dictionary....here are some definitions of elders:
One having authority by virtue of age and experience
Older; more aged, or existing longer
One who is older; a superior in age; a senior

If you'll
click here, you can read the post I did about "Mentors".
It's wonderful to have a mentor, somebody you can look up to....a Christian who you can learn from....somebody who is older than you....an elder.
I've mentioned before how much I love acrostics...so let's take a look at the word "E-L-D-E-R", as I think it might apply to seeking out an "elder" to be a mentor, a confidante, a friend:
E - Experience
Remember last week I mentioned that sometimes we need to find somebody that we can confide in, somebody who will listen and understand and not judge, but can offer us a listening ear, maybe some advice. We need somebody who is more experienced with life, somebody who we might have even seen go thru something similar to what we're facing in our own life.
Isaiah 50:4 (NLT)
The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
L - Love
If you are searching for somebody to be your mentor, like I did with Ms. Thelma, my Sunday school teacher, then you want somebody who is loving....especially, somebody full of God's love!!!
Romans 13:8 (NLT)
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another.
If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
D - Devotion
When I think of the word devotion, as applying it to being a mentor, the person you choose needs to be devoted to the Lord. Any advice they give you, they will have scripture to back it up. And, they need to also be devoted to you and to the confidence you place in them....and in turn they need to keep what you tell them confident.
Job 6:14 (
NKJV)
To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend.

(we should be devoted to those who are suffering)
Here is where my new favorite saying comes into play:
"Be kinder than necessary
because everybody you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
E - Expectant
I chose the word "expectant", because it reminds me of hope....and by now you have to know that "hope" is just my very favorite word!!! We know that when we pray for something that we expect an answer. Sometimes we are told "no"...sometimes "yes"...and sometimes "wait".
Psalm 5:3 (NLT)

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
R - Respect
If somebody chooses to confide in us about something....we first need to show them respect. This could be a burden they've been carrying around for a long time, and we don't ever need to make the person feel guilty....or even act like whatever it is they are sharing with us is no big deal, because it obviously is to them. Have you heard that whatever is in your heart, or on your mind, will usually come out your mouth? Do you understand what that means? It means that whatever we are thinking about is usually what we're going to talk about. So, if somebody chooses to share something with you, respect both them and their problem.
We are to treat them just like we would want to be treated....showing no favoritism....only respect.

Acts 10:34 (NLT)
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.


I'm not sure why God laid this on my heart...
but He did!!!

Sometimes I find out later on that it was meant just for me, for something that I'm about to go thru, or be faced with.
If that's the case, then I hope that by looking up this scripture that I'll be prepared.
If any of you are faced with something similar to this....then, I hope that you can use some of these scriptures....to help yourself, or somebody else!!!

In His Love...and with mine!!!

1 comment:

  1. I to, think of Ms. Thlema as a mentor, of someone who has wonderful knowledge a gift from God, I'd like to aquire and listen and talk with. But I also think of you as a mentor, someone who God has created as a beautiful person with a big heart who I respect and confide in because of the gift God has given you, of warmth, love, patience, kindness etc. Love your blogs and they touch me in all kinds of ways. Thank you God for this beautiful lady. Robin

    ReplyDelete

Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24