Many of us grew up hearing, “Respect your elders.” Maybe some of us heard that so often that we began to resent it, and by way of connection, began to resent our elders. But, why do we need to respect those who are older than us?
First, we need to do it because God tells us to do it. “Rise before…and honor the presence of an old man” (Lev. 19:32; cf. 1 Tim. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:5). Second, we need to do it because they deserve our respect. They’ve “Been there and done that” longer than we have, and they deserve an opportunity to be heard. Third, we need to do it because (guess what?) we will likely get something out of it. Sometimes those who are younger are not eager to listen. But if we will, we will likely benefit from the knowledge, wisdom and life experience of those who have taken more trips around the sun than we have.
Respect. It is something that ought to characterize every Christian for every other person on this earth (Rom. 12:10; 13:7; Eph. 6:2; 1 Pet. 2:17; 3:7).