August 31, 2026 | Be Connected
Treating People with Respect
Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1-2(NIV)
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Devotional
People are usually most comfortable with others their age. Most times when adults develop friendships, it is with people ten years or so within their age. I suppose it makes sense. From childhood through college, we are placed with people almost exactly our age. Most people marry someone close to their age, and build common connections through their children, work, and activities.
Here Paul is challenging the Ephesian believers to break down the age-related social barriers. When you treat someone like your mom or dad, sister or brother, son or daughter, it’s hard to be dismissive, harsh, or improper. The heart of this is love.
The Bible calls the church the family of God. Jesus said whoever does his will is his mother, sister, and brother. Earlier in this letter, Paul described the church family as the household of God. Here are a few of the many ways Scripture calls us to treat each other as a church family:
Welcome one another.
Show hospitality to one another.
Love one another.
Submit to one another.
Honor one another.
Be kind to one another.
Confess sins to one another.
Forgive one another.
Comfort one another.
Care for one another.
Carry the burdens of one another.
Encourage one another.
Build up one another.
Instruct one another.
Serve one another
Do good to one another.
Pray for one another.
Here’s a challenge. Over the next several weeks at church, do one of these with somebody who is younger, somebody who is older, and somebody who is roughly the same age as you. Treat your church family… like family.
