Growth and Maturity · Education and Values · Home and Family · Values and Manners · Devotional Life

Remembering manners and responsibilities?

11 min read, approximately

“And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead. And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.” (2 Kings 2:23-24)

The Bible says

“But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

From a very young age, we are taught certain rules, guidelines, and directions so that when we grow up we will know how to behave, be selfless, and avoid being hit quite so hard by life’s different situations. If we summarize these guidelines, we could say that “good manners” and “taking responsibility” will always help us open doors and, of course, lead a manageable life. In addition, our parents knew when to reward us and when to reprimand us, according to the values and guidelines they had taught us.

Let us examine manners and responsibilities

Responsibilities? Could we name 3 manners that characterize us today and 3 of our main responsibilities? Where did those manners and responsibilities come from?… Let us examine a few:
(Click each one to see its content)

\1. Do we greet people when we arrive and say goodbye when we leave?

“Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.” (Romans 16:16)

“The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:19-20)

“After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples together, encouraged and embraced them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.” (Acts 20:1) \2. Do we give thanks?

“in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in him, rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

\3. Do we help others?

“And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all; while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

“Let no one seek their own good, but that of another.” (1 Corinthians 10:24), “Let each of us please our neighbor for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:2)

“and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

\4. Do we behave appropriately?

“There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke 1:5-6)

“And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47)

“and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)

\5. And what about our responsibilities?

“But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. For each man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 6:4-5)

“Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:” (2 Peter 1:10)

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)

\6. Do we work?

“Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:4)

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.” (Proverbs 12:24)

“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.” (Proverbs 13:11)

“Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.” (2 John 1:8)

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.” (Ephesians 4:28)

“For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.” (1 Timothy 5:18)

“After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them; and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.” (Acts 18:1-3)

\7. Do we say ‘Please’ when asking (Courtesy)?

“And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.” (Acts 27:3)

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6)

“Finally, [be] ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded: not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

\8. Do we offer our seat on public transportation (Empathy)?

“All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

“He answered: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. He said to him: You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:27-28)

“Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)

“And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:1-2) \9. Do we interrupt others when they speak?

“Ye know [this], my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

“He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13)

“Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.” (Acts 19:36)

\10. Do we respect our elders?

“The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.” (Proverbs 20:29)

“Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

“Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)

“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah.” (Leviticus 19:32)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

\11. Ladies first?

“[doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

“Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbor’s [good].” (1 Corinthians 10:24)

“But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? [My] little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

“What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.” (James 2:14-17)

“And the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20)

“Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

Conclusion

How many responsibilities have we set aside? How are our manners and responsibilities today? Are we remembering manners and responsibilities? Do we need to read the Bible?

Do you want to cultivate a grateful and well-mannered heart? Find music that inspires your character in our Songbook from SanidApp.

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook