Category Archives: Respect

Open Bible beside coins and folded dollar bills on wooden table
Bible, Honor, Honorablre, Payment, Repayment, Respect, Romans, Scripture, Tax

PAY WHAT IS DUE

ROMANS 13:7

“Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.”

As followers of Christ, we should be law-abiding citizens. When it comes to paying taxes and obeying the authorities, we should be the first to do so. Rebellion for rebellion’s sake is not an act approved by the Scriptures. I have always attempted to follow the law and do what it requires. I may not like a certain law, but I will do my best to obey it. It was no different in Paul’s day.

As Paul concludes these verses on submitting to those in authority, he simply says to “pay to all what is due them.” The Greek word translated “pay” is apodídōmi. I love what the Topical Lexicon says about this word. “In every usage Scripture presents a God-governed moral order in which what is owed—whether money, honor, duty, or judgment—must ultimately be returned.” Paul has been telling us since verse 1 of this chapter that all authority is placed by God. That is why we “pay” them back.

APPLICATION

Paul goes on to clarify what he is telling us here. He lists four things in particular, “tax,” “custom,” respect,” and “honor.” The word “tax” refers to a property tax. The word is only used five times. It’s used twice in Luke (20:22; 23:2) where the Jews are talking about paying tax to Caesar. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like paying property tax. But as long as the government requires it, I don’t have much of a choice.

In contrast, the word “custom” is a tax as well but refers to a mercantile tax or revenue. The Greek word is telos which is often used as “finish” or “end.” So, this “custom” or tax was paid at the end of a transaction.

“Respect” is the same word we saw back in 13:3. Here in verse 7 it is better to use the word “respect” to translate it rather than “fear” which we saw earlier. It is true that respect is earned. I get that. But we are commanded here to pay respect to our authorities because of the position they hold, not because of their personality. Don’t forget that.

And the last payment we are to make is “honor.” The Greek word is defined as the respect due to persons of distinction. Some people have trouble showing honor to people they disagree with about something. Think of this way – you are being honorable by showing honor. Isn’t that what Jesus would do? (not to be cliché) Make your payments count!

Lord, I will strive to pay what You require of me towards others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Child dressed in police uniform saluting a police officer on the street
Authority, Bible, Evil, Fear, Good, Respect, Romans, Scripture

NO FEAR OF AUTHORITY

ROMANS 13:3

“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;”

Okay, be honest. You’re traveling down the road at just over the speed limit and you see a police car. What do you do? You instinctively take your foot off the accelerator, right? You tap those brakes just a little and then you watch in your rear view mirror to see if they turn around and turn on their blue lights. That may depend on just how fast you were driving. The point is we all have that little fear of getting a speeding ticket.

Paul tells us in today’s verse to just drive the speed limit, and you will have no fear. Well, he didn’t exactly say that, but you get my drift. He asks, “Do you want to have no fear of authority?” And then he answers his own question. “Do what is good…” If we are obeying those in authority and doing good toward them, we will have no fear of them. Paul tells us those in authority are there for a reason – to point us toward good behavior.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated by the phrase “cause of fear” is phobos. We get our word phobia from that. It’s a fear that causes you to withdraw. I have a fear of snakes. When I see one, I want to go the other direction. I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would want to touch one, at least a live one. Paul is telling us that our authorities in our lives should not cause us to withdraw. Quite the contrary, we should be drawn to them if we are doing good.

Paul makes the point that authorities are not in our lives to make us fearful of doing good but rather to make us fearful of doing evil. That makes sense, doesn’t it? I feared my dad’s belt, not for doing good things to my siblings, but for doing bad things to them. And that fear was a healthy fear, not a scared to death fear. I knew he was shaping my future behavior by how he dealt with my misbehaviors.

What are you fearful of? I pray it’s not those in authority over you. I pray your response to them is a healthy respect and obedience, so you will not have to fear consequences for not obeying their guidance. May your response be exactly what Paul says in the last phrase of today’s verse. “Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;” Amen?

Thank You, Lord, for those whom You have placed over me. Help to bless them as I serve them.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Roman man pointing and scolding a kneeling young man in tattered clothing in an ancient courtyard
Bible, Evil, Love, Respect, Romans, Scripture

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

ROMANS 12:17

“Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.”

When I read today’s verse, I instantly thought of one my memory passages from our Every Man A Warrior study. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says, “8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.” Isn’t that a fitting passage to begin our look at Romans 12:17?

As Paul continues to give us practical, everyday guidelines as believers, he directs us to do things today. One – never repay evil for evil and two – respect what is right. Those are a couple of good suggestions, don’t you think? Both of these are in the Present Tense so we should be doing this all the time, not just once or twice. They should be our lifestyle of dealing with others.

APPLICATION

The word “repay” is the Greek word apodidómi which literally means to deliver or make a payment. Even when people do evil against us it does not give us a free pass to do evil to them. Don’t forget the culture in which Paul is writing. The Roman rule over Christians was harsh. Many of the early believers were slaves to hard masters. I am sure some lay in bed at night thinking of ways to pay back their masters for their horrible treatment. So, Paul was addressing a real world problem. Paul uses the same word in 1 Thessalonians 5:15. “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.”

Then Paul says to “respect what is right.” The word “respect” is pronoéō which means “to think (plan) before, showing necessary forethought to act properly (in God’s will).” (HELPS Word-studies). It’s also used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:21. “for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people.” Paul uses it again in 1 Timothy 5:8 to admonish the man who does not care for his family. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Repay appropriately and respect appropriately. Are we doing that to those who wish us evil, to those who treat us harshly, to those who ignore and shun us? I never said it was easy, but it is possible or the Lord would not have told us to do it. Right? So, dust yourself when they knock you down and pray. God will give you the ability to do whatever He asks of you.

Lord, You ask some hard things of us at times, but I know with Your power I am able to do it.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Honor, Respect, Scripture, Servant, Service

HONOR GOD’S SERVANTS

PHILIPPIANS 2:29

“Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard,”

When I was growing up in Southwest Georgia in the 1960’s and 70’s, preachers and missionaries were held in high regard. I can still remember the awe I felt every time a missionary visited our church. Their dedication and sacrifice hit me hard even as a child. Little did I know that in late 1977, at 17 years of age, God would call me into full-time ministry. I had no idea what that meant, but He has guided me all these years.

Paul gave the church in Philippi some instructions regarding the return of Epaphroditus. He wanted them to “receive him…with all joy” and “hold…him in high regard.” Epaphroditus had served faithfully and was deserving of the honor and respect due any servant of the Lord. Why would Paul have to ask the church to do that? Because, as Christ said, a prophet is not honored in his own town. Right?

APPLICATION

The Greek word used here for “high regard” is only used five times in the New Testament. It’s the word entimos, which means to hold in honor or to treat with respect. In Luke 7:2, entimosis used to describe the servant of the centurion who was sick. “And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.”

But the verse I really like that uses this word is 1 Peter 2:4. “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,…” The Topical Lexicon says this about the use of this word there. “Here, entimos highlights the intrinsic value and honor of Christ, despite human rejection, affirming His esteemed position in God’s redemptive plan.” Christ was precious to God.

Just as Christ is highly regarded and precious in the sight of God, we are to hold His servants in the same way. This week show your Pastor that kind of respect. Bless a missionary or church volunteer. Honor those who serve. Bless those who sacrifice for kingdom work.

Father, help me show honor and respect to those who are serving you sacrificially this day.

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Bible, Husbands, Love, Respect, Scripture, Wives

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

EPHESIANS 5:33

“Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”

Back in the 1960’s Aretha Franklin had a hit song entitled, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” The song was talking about her wanting a little respect from her man when she comes home. Even though the song was super popular and really made her a star, the message is all wrong. Biblically speaking, it is the woman who is supposed to show respect to the man, not the other way around. Now, before you get mad and stop reading, I am not saying a woman should not be respected. I am saying when a man is shown the respect God intended from his wife, there will be reciprocal respect shown.

Notice today’s verse. Paul is wrapping up this passage on husbands and wives with this message. Husbands love your wives. Wives respect your husbands. Paul does not say husbands respect your wives and wives love your husbands. It is just understood that if each is following the Lord’s commands which He has given them, each will receive the love and respect they deserve. (look back and yesterday’s blog and the point about the triangle)

APPLICATION

We know the word for “love” in this verse. It’s the Greek word of God’s love, agapao. But what is the Greek word for “respect”? It is phobeó, which means to fear, dread, show reverence to, to be afraid, or to be terrified. Now, context is the key. Look how this word is used in Matthew 1:20. This is the scene in which the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph about Mary. “But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’” Here, phobeó obviously means to not fear or be terrified.

In Luke 1:50 we see this word used again, but in a similar way it is used our verse today. This is Mary speaking during her Magnificat. “‘And His mercy is to generation after generation toward those who fear Him.’” We are not to be scared of God. Instead, we are to show Him reverence and respect. That’s how Paul is using this word in Ephesians 5:33.

Unfortunately, too many women do fear their husbands because of their brutality. God does not expect wives to have to deal with that. God’s plan for marriage works perfectly when both parties are following Him. If you are in an abusive marriage, seek help now. Don’t stay a victim of fear. If you are in a healthy marriage (notice I didn’t say perfect), do it God’s way. Let each of you show each other the love and respect God expects from you.

O God, thank You for showing us how to love well. Thank You for healthy marriages that model Christ’s love for the church.

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Advice, Betrayal, Bible, Denial, Foolishness, Judgment, Lies, Modeling, Obedience, Respect, Scripture, Surrender

NOSE THUMBER

HOSEA 10:3

“Certainly now they will say, ‘We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. As for the king, what can he do for us?’”

I have known a few people who thumbed their nose at God. I had a coworker once who wanted nothing to do with God or me. I was the Chaplain at a children’s home, so I represented God to him. He really didn’t like me because of that. He was constantly speaking badly about our chapel services and ridiculed the decisions the children were making. He did not revere the Lord.

Israel did not revere the Lord. They had no respect for their king either. They had lost all their allegiance to anyone except themselves, and that was failing. So, they were also thumbing their noses at God. He wasn’t doing what they wanted, so they were done with Him. They wanted God to serve them, to meet all their needs. Anything less was useless to them.

APPLICATION

What is your view of God? You may expect God to meet all your needs when you want Him to. You may think the Lord is kind of like Santa Claus. And when He doesn’t “perform” you put Him aside. That is not the way God works. He is not on your timetable.

But, oh listen to me. God wants to work in your life. He has such grand plans for you and me. We have to lay down our plans and allow Him to work in and through us. We will never know the heights to which He can take us unless we lay down our own self made plans. Will you do that today?

I am still learning how to lay down my plans. I am a planner and there are times when I get tired of waiting on God. Don’t judge me. I am sure you have done that. But when I do wait on Him, His plan makes so much better sense. You would think I would have learned this by now. Keep me in your prayers, and I will pray for you, too.

Father, I don’t want to ever caste You aside. You are the center of all I do. I want to honor You.

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