I Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
It’s a short verse with four short, yet profound commands. Lets consider the first command:
“Honour all men.”
As Christians, how are we to understand this command to “Honour all men?” By process of elimination the context within the verse itself gives us a good clue: The honour we’re to give to all men (saved or lost) will definitely not be the same as the “love” we are to show our brethren in Christ, the family of God. Nor will it compare with the “fear” we’re to have for a Holy God, or the kind of “honour” we would be expected to show a king.
So, what does that leave us with? What should our attitude be toward every person we come in contact with on an everyday basis? How should we act toward and speak to those we often don’t know, as we live, transact business and simply interact with, sometimes briefly and other times extensively?
The answer is common courtesy. This is everyday, every man basic respect (not earned, exceptional respect) that we should automatically extend to all, unless they have somehow proved they’re not worthy of it (even in the prison system, those who’ve committed crimes against innocent minor children are lowest in the peck order of prison life). We live in a culture that is getting progressively meaner and uglier by the year, by the election, by the sporting event, by the disagreement over policy, by the traffic incident (think road rage).
Just by simply emulating what Jesus taught about the expected behavior of his followers in Matthew chapters 5 and 6, we can really stand above in our testimony. In other words simply acting like Christians! While it’s important to stand up for and if necessary, fight for Biblical moral and doctrinal principles, we will be judged worthy of a hearing by most reasonable people based on how we simply treat other people.
The basic levels of respect that embody common courtesy are usually understood as acknowledging, considering, being decent to, and showing kindness to our fellow man, regardless of their political affiliations, religious adherence, language, culture, or skin color.
A young boy was once overheard in his bedtime prayers to say “dear God please make all the bad people good and make all the good people kind.” I think the lad’s prayer would be partially answered if we simply obeyed Peter’ admonition to “honour all men.” (I Peter 2:17)
Your Pastor and Friend,
Rick DeMichele