When I was a small child I was trained by my parents, relatives and school teachers. Many protocols of good man-ners. Some of these I’m afraid have been lost. Here were a few: standing up when an adult, especially a lady entered your classroom, or holding open a door for others but especially any aged female. That form of chivalry is long gone in most are-as. Another was taking off your hat when you entered God’s house, as a sign of honor. One in particular in particular thing I remember was saying “Please” when I asked for something and “Thank you when I received it. Thank the Lord, that last ones still exists in many homes.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
The truth is that most of these cultured practices find their basis in Scriptural principals. Take for instance the “Please and Thank you” practice. It is based on the teachings of grace and salvation as well as humility. That piece of candy that children desire is undeserved or unearned. It is a free gift for the asking, not to be taken for granted like our salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your-selves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”) Well, what about opening a door for others, especially ladies or the elderly. In Romans 12:10 and in 1 Timothy 5:21 Paul reminds us that we should be “preferring one anoth-er.” In other words, we were to be leaders showing the proper way without being partial to ourselves or special people. Then in 1 Peter 5:5 we were to be “subject to one another, and clothed in humility…”
Finally, in 1 Peter 3:7 there is the directive for husbands to treat their wives with “honor (value or respect) as unto the weaker (fragile, irreplaceable) vessel.” That is why young or old men do not rush in a door ahead of a woman, or holds the door open for them. It is about honor. There are so many others like sending thank you cards for gifts or acts of kindness to those who have done them unto you. Hopefully parents are teaching a life of gratitude to their children both by word and example.
So, what are you thankful for? Have you expressed it?
Pastor Ron Tobin