R E S P E C T
II Kings -14
Have you ever heard a disrespectful comment or seen a gesture by a competitor inflame the competitive edge in his opponent and lead to his/her team’s defeat? It happens more often than you can imagine and today’s scripture tells about a similar instance.
In the Old Testament book of Second Kings at chapter 1 and verses 13 and 14 it says, “So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. ‘Man of God,’ he begged, ‘please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!”
This man was much wiser than the two who preceded him. They showed terrible disrespect for the Man of God and were consumed with fire. He knew that Elijah was not someone to be messed with and he took an appropriate posture.
As we compete, we might be better off letting sleeping dogs lie. If your opponent is struggling and seems to be a little off his game, don’t trash talk him into a better performance. Rather than showing him up with your mouth, give him proper respect and maybe he won’t destroy you in the second half.
Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 9:14-32
I Corinthians 16
Psalms 94
Ruth 4