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ON RESPECT!

He began his career at the age of 15 when he started writing jokes. At 17 he started performing at amateur nights. At 19 he had two jobs, one as a comic who couldn't make a living, and the other as a singing waiter. He would sing and people threw money at him. But he was determined to do comedy and traveled the circuit for ten years before he finally gave it up for a more stable income.

It wasn't until the age of 40 that he made the decision to re-launch his career as a performer and comedy writer for the second time. He spent his days in a business office and his nights working in New York clubs. Not satisfied, he opened his own club, and finally found success.

Besides being a Las Vegas headliner for over 20 years, he has also made countless appearances on talk and television variety shows. His first big break was The Ed Sullivan Show which he did 16 times. He also appeared on This Is Your Life, What's My Line, "The Dean Martin Show", Saturday Night Live, and a record 70 times on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
On stage, he connected with his audience, by telling one liners such as:
“ When I was born, the doctor came out to the waiting room and said to my father, ‘I am very sorry. We did everything we could, but he pulled through.’”
“ My parents hated me so much my first bath toy was an electric toaster.”
“ Once when I was lost, I saw a policeman and asked him to help me find my parents. I said to him, do you think we’ll ever find them? He said, ‘I don’t know kid, there are so many places to hide.’”
“ I remember I was so depressed I was going to jump out a window on the tenth floor. So the hotel manager sent a priest up to talk to me. He said, ‘On your mark . . .’”
“ I saw my psychiatrist. I told him, ‘Doc, I keep thinking I’m a dog.’ He told me to get off his couch.”
“ Last week I told my psychiatrist, ‘I keep thinking about suicide.’ He told me from now on I have to pay in advance.”
“ I met the surgeon general. He offered me a cigarette!”
“ Last week my tie caught on fire. Some guy tired to put it out with an ax!”
“ A girl phoned me and said, ‘Come on over there’s nobody home.’ I went over, and discovered that nobody was home!”
“ When I was a kid I got no respect. I worked in a pet store. People kept asking, ‘How big would I get?’”
“ With my old man I get no respect, I asked him, ‘How can I get my kite in the air?’ He told me to run off a cliff.”
It may surprise you, as it did me, that Rodney Dangerfield was the first entertainer to personally own a Website on the Internet. He launched it in February 1995, and it has won numerous awards and distinctions as one of the most popular destinations on the WWW. It can be found at http://www.rodney.com.
Nor have his contributions to the world of comedy been overlooked. In 1981, he won a Grammy Award for his comedy album named No Respect and was the recipient of the Lifetime Creative Achievement Award from the 1994 American Comedy Awards. But more than that, his famous trademark, a white shirt and red tie, are on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Aaahhh....respect at last.

When the Bible addresses this issue of respect, it occasionally speaks of, or hints at, earning respect. But it majors on admonishing us to give respect to others. For example, in regards to earning respect we see such verses as:
A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. Proverbs 11:16
“ But you know that Timothy has proved himself, (therefore respect him) . . .
“ Welcome Epaphroditus in the Lord with great joy, and honor (respect) men like him, because . . . Philippians 2:22,29
“ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor (respect), . . . 1 Timothy 5:17
“ Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry (and he has earned my respect). II Timothy 4:11
Once, when giving respect seemed to be too much to hope for, and earning it was evidently out of the question, it was legislated into existence by the King of Persia. In Esther 1:19 - 22 we read:
" Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest." 21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household.
You can probably guess that legislating respect into existence didn’t quite work out. For, in fact, sinful women, and certainly, sinful men are not prone to give respect to anyone even when it is demanded of them.
So when Rodney Dangerfield complains of getting “no respect” he touches on a disorder of the human condition that has plagued us all to one degree or another. For, in fact, we seldom receive the respect we deserve for simply being a member of the human race in one capacity or another.

A British author by the name of J. B. Priestley put it this way:
“ There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age. I missed it coming and going.”
It is perhaps for this reason, our unwillingness to readily give respect, that Scripture so often admonishes us to show respect for one another. For example, we read:
“ Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:3
“ Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:32
“ Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:7
In his letter to the believers in Rome, Paul addressed this issue of giving respect within the framework of government authorities. He was undoubtedly aware of rulers who were arbitrary and, at times, cruel. Nevertheless, he urged believers to give respect where respect was due; to those in authority.

David, when pursued and persecuted by Saul refused, again and again, to use any advantage he might have against King Saul. While, he may not have respected the man, he certainly respected the office Saul held.

In Ephesians, Paul’s focus is on the family. He has already urged wives to respect their husbands. Now, in chapter 6, he turns his attention to children, fathers, slaves, and masters. Within each category his emphasis is on giving respect to others. He doesn’t always use the word respect, but that, I believe, is the flavor of the various paragraphs. We read:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor (respect) your father and mother" --which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way (with respect). Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

It is interesting to note that Paul shows respect for “children,” in a culture where children were discounted, by addressing them personally. He honors them by putting the ball in their hands and letting them know that whether they obey or not, whether they show respect toward their parents or not, is up to them.

He does remind them that this is the right thing to do. It not merely the fitting thing to do, it is the right thing. It is an actual duty. He also reminds them that this particular commandment, a primary one, comes with a promise; a promise of longevity and well-being. Perhaps he is reminding them of this promise so as to encourage them to do the right thing. If so, he is indeed addressing children who often want to know why they are doing something contrary to their nature.

What this means is that when you tell a kid that he better do something or else you are going to kill him, you are simply doing your part to fulfill a long-standing promise. Of course, you’re missing the fact that fathers are not supposed exasperate their children but in the reality of the moment that is beside the point.

Also, it is to be noted that this commandment, especially as seen in the Old Testament, may not be commanding young children to obey their parents as much as it is challenging older adults to take care of their parents! Either way, we are to have respect for our parents and demonstrate this respect in various ways.

The inverse of the first three verses is that fathers are not to aggravate their children. They are to show respect by being on their side; not on their back. They are to show respect by taking the time to train and instruct those under their charge. They are to home-school their children in a disciplined but caring atmosphere. To harass, berate, or nag children so as to get the job done, whatever that job is, does more harm than good.

In regards to slaves within the household, or employees at a place of business, respect, by Christians, is shown by being an extraordinary employee. For, in fact, you are not simply a slave; nor are we simply an employee. We are ambassadors for Christ and, as such, we have a responsibility to do excellent work.

Likewise, masters or employers, are to be just and fair. They are to treat their employees as they would like to be treated. They are to pay employees a fair wage, and are to be sensitive to their concerns. They earn respect by giving respect!

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