1 Thessalonians 5: 13
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work\’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher once told of some thieves who broke into a jewelry store. The strange thing about the incident was that they didn’t steal anything. The authorities and the story owner were puzzled It wasn’t until the store owner realized that his expensive jewelry was being sold at junk prices and his junk jewelry was going sold at expensive prices that he understood what had happened. The “thieves” had simply rearranged the price tags on the items.
This happens everyday. People rearrange the value of others in their minds. People are valued for how they look, what they can or can’t do, what they have or what they do not have. Unfortunately true value is not often seen in the lives of the people around us. Our sense of esteem, value and respect are warped by our culture. People are valued with regard to possessions, popularity, power, associations, and appearance.
Character, calling, and committment are often overlooked as opinions are formed. Even Christians who can quote 1 Samuel 16:7 – at least the last part of the verse, fail to make its practical application in their own lives. Truly “the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” We fail to remember that we are a work of art signed by God. We should have a high regard for those who have given their hearts and lives to God’s service.
Dr. Gayle Woods