You Should Have More Respect For Your Elders!

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re·spect

[ ri spékt ]

• thoughtfulness: consideration or thoughtfulness
• esteem: a feeling or attitude of admiration and deference toward somebody or something

I think the first definition is due to everybody, by everybody. Human to human, regardless of age. The second one, I believe, is earned.

I think both Rachels made some good points, though. Even if somebody is technically correct, their advice loses credibility if they deliver it like a jerk.

 

[CDavid]

All the above.

 

[JaumeJ]

Another one of those coincidences occurred just this morning while reading the Word and doing my Hebrew study in Job. It concerns the topic, and is from Job 32. What I paste is the feeling in Job's time about respecting others, and there is more after in the text if you wish to go to it in the Holy Scriptures.

Job 32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

I believe we really should respect our elders because we know them. If an unknown elder is encountered there should be respect for this reason alone.

As for asking the question, this, again, is a question that in times past, my times, needed not be asked. Anyone who believe an elder must earn respect first has a self-image issue, for there is never any harm in respecting others. If an elder is undeserving of respect it will demonstrate itself with time. No harm, no foul

 

[Abiding]

I think the bible says to especially respect 58 yr olds
And if its hard...then give them cookies.

 

[loveme1]

I think the bible says to especially respect 58 yr olds
And if its hard...then give them cookies.

You are too young... we have members that is your age backward! always trying it on for a cookie...

 

[zeroturbulence]

Leviticus 19:32

"Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord."

 

[Nautilus]

i think there are different opinions on respect here. Like I respect that youve lived longer and probably have more eperience than me, and of course Im going to be polite to you. But I dont think it equates to necessarily respecting your opinions, which is where I hear a lot of guff from older folks about younger folks these days. Its not thatt we dont respect you, we just dont agree with how your generation thinks ours should be.

 

[hattiebod]

Just continue following God's will. If you cant reach your family there is nothing you can do, all your required to do is maybe try at least. Once you have tried that's it. Christ teaches forgiveness, but you know all of this already .

Thanks, its not me though. This person is struggling though & I just wondered about this situation Biblically. The surviving parent is not open to the gospel. Yet. <><

 

[jonrambo]

i tend to give older people more of a chance then young whipper snappers coz i assume they are wise. usualy right. USUALY

 

[jonrambo]

i think there are different opinions on respect here. Like I respect that youve lived longer and probably have more eperience than me, and of course Im going to be polite to you. But I dont think it equates to necessarily respecting your opinions, which is where I hear a lot of guff from older folks about younger folks these days. Its not thatt we dont respect you, we just dont agree with how your generation thinks ours should be.

i agree with your grandparents nautilus

 

[JaumeJ]

I like your reasoning. Take it from one who would love to be usually right......... Actually, I was not going to reply because it needs no embellishment from me, but I wanted to share just how much I love Jeremiah 17:5...of course I love the Word, so I am saying this about many verses often. Thank you.

i tend to give older people more of a chance then young whipper snappers coz i assume they are wise. usualy right. USUALY

 

[hattiebod]

i think there are different opinions on respect here. Like I respect that youve lived longer and probably have more eperience than me, and of course Im going to be polite to you. But I dont think it equates to necessarily respecting your opinions, which is where I hear a lot of guff from older folks about younger folks these days. Its not thatt we dont respect you, we just dont agree with how your generation thinks ours should be.

There can be good advice given by the older generation, often though its not advice we want to accept. My father was never in debt, he worked hard, he did not use a credit card (were not really available) when he saved up the money, he bought it, if he did not have the money, he waited. He had his own hotel...so was not a poor man....but started off saving to buy a derelict house He was a Bible believing Christian, something I did not appreciate at all. I think there are many things we can learn from our elders...if we would listen. I used to think respect was earned too...now I think it is freely given by me, until the person shows me they are totally devoid of it. Whenever i move, one of the things I pray for is an older Bible believing & following couple (my husband is not saved yet, so the couple bit is important to befriend, encourage & support us. God has always provided. I find the friendship & mentoring invaluable, the age difference is exactly what we need. The arrogance of my 'youth' is firmly put in its place, excuses revealed for what they are and I am challenged, built up and loved. Brilliant. Thank you God!! <><

 

[Theophane]

Job 12:12 - "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"

Generally, yes. But there's no fool like an old fool!

 

[Ariel82]

well age does not always mean wisdom...if we are quoting Job we should remember these verses:

Job 32
[SUP]6 [/SUP]So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]I said, ‘Age[SUP][b][/SUP] should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
[SUP]8 [/SUP]But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Great men[SUP][c][/SUP] are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.



[SUP]10 [/SUP]“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—

 

[Nautilus]

i agree with your grandparents nautilus

lol thats funny...id be interested to know how

 

[JaumeJ]

You might consider how these conversations ended, with Job being justified and asked by God to pray for those others, including the younger for he too was in error. No one is disputing that anyone may be lacking in the wisdom department, but all should respect elders, if for nothing else, for their experience. You have no way of knowing what they have endured to arrive to where they are. I do know that, because of experience, we consider others and what they have endured. It pleases God, and costs nothing.

well age does not always mean wisdom...if we are quoting Job we should remember these verses:

Job 32
[SUP]6 [/SUP]So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]I said, ‘Age[SUP][b][/SUP] should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
[SUP]8 [/SUP]But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Great men[SUP][c][/SUP] are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.



[SUP]10 [/SUP]“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—

 

[JaumeJ]

I see folks here who believe respect is interpreted to mean always accepting what they say. This is not respect. If I am in error, I appreciate others, in kindness, to show where I err. Respect also has a bad conotation, that being of allowing privilege to others for their importance, and this respect is not advisable, the only one to respect is God in that manner. Just surrender your seat to an elder when there are none others for him, this is respect, and common sense I believe. By the way, I still give up my seat when I see someone infirm or seemingly weak.

 

[Ariel82]

You might consider how these conversations ended, with Job being justified and asked by God to pray for those others, including the younger for he too was in error.

no Elihu is not listed at the end. only Eliphaz and his TWO friends.

I can't understand why no one ever speaks of him. just Job and Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.

Job 42
[SUP]9 [/SUP]So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job

it never states in the Bible that Elihu gets a response from Job or is corrected by God. In fact God uses some of the same phrases that Elihu used to describe Job: a man who multiple "words without knowledge"

I think it shows that like Timothy and Jeremiah it is not age that brings wisdom but God's Holy Spirit.

Yes I have already said we should show respect for our elders.

Allow them to speak their piece but at the same time our youth does not disqualify us from hearing from God and speaking HIS words.

Respect does not mean blind obedience.

 

[JaumeJ]

I am currently rereading Job, this time will be my first time in Hebrew. I had forgotten Elihu is not mentioned in the end. The Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit, and for this reason when I feel the presence I listen. Thanks Ariel..............Keep up the good study.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

There can be good advice given by the older generation, often though its not advice we want to accept. My father was never in debt, he worked hard, he did not use a credit card (were not really available) when he saved up the money, he bought it, if he did not have the money, he waited. He had his own hotel...so was not a poor man....but started off saving to buy a derelict house He was a Bible believing Christian, something I did not appreciate at all. I think there are many things we can learn from our elders...if we would listen. I used to think respect was earned too...now I think it is freely given by me, until the person shows me they are totally devoid of it. Whenever i move, one of the things I pray for is an older Bible believing & following couple (my husband is not saved yet, so the couple bit is important to befriend, encourage & support us. God has always provided. I find the friendship & mentoring invaluable, the age difference is exactly what we need. The arrogance of my 'youth' is firmly put in its place, excuses revealed for what they are and I am challenged, built up and loved. Brilliant. Thank you God!! <><

actually money is one of those issues where i think many of my 'elders' don't have the understanding to comment on the situation that many young people are in nowdays...

i may take your advice if you are over eighty...otherwise you haven't experienced anything like the disastrous economy of nowdays and with all your life experiences this economic mess is as new to you as it is to me...

i am sorry but 'when i was your age i had a job already in high school and ever since then i was never unemployed for over a year because -we- took any job we could get'...inevitably coming from someone who spent much of their adult life enjoying an economic boom...just doesn't sound like the voice of wisdom to me...

in fact i have noticed that those who actually -did- live through the great depression...nowdays older grandparents and great grandparents...are much more sympathetic of the challenges facing the younger generations than the baby boomers who had it comparatively easier than them...

another thing that is practically impossible to discuss with many older people is social security...i think mainly because they resent the fact that they misunderstood and fell for a ponzi scheme that much of the younger generation sees through and opposes...

also i should mention that many of my elders are up to their necks in debt that they are either struggling to get out of or don't even care about any more...are they really a source of wise advice on finances?

finally to be fair i will say that not all older people are this way...there are those that can give advice that i will appreciate...