culture of respect

A culture of respect underlies the book of Proverbs. We see three examples in this passage:

1. Respect for the Lord

The word ‘fear’ (Proverbs 14:2, NIV) is probably best understood as ‘respect’. ‘An honest life shows respect for God’ (MSG). Respect for the Lord is the starting point for respect in all our other relationships.

2. Respect for the wise

Choose carefully whom you spend time with. ‘Whoever walks with the wise grows wise’ (13:20). ‘Wise speech evokes nothing but respect’ (14:3, MSG). Our society increasingly devalues the wisdom that comes with age. Wisdom often (though not always) comes through the experience of a long life. There is a huge amount of untapped wisdom in older people.

3. Respect in the home

‘A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them’ (13:24, MSG). This teaching has sometimes been abused by an over-literal interpretation. What the book of Proverbs is encouraging is a culture of respect in the family – respect for parents and also respect for children, which involves loving discipline