The One-Way Street of Respect

And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. (1 Samuel 18:24-27 ESV) David had consistently shown respect to Saul as King. He came whenever he was asked to sing to sooth his spirit. He spoke humbly when the topic turned to becoming part of the royal family through marriage. He rose to the occasion whenever called to do battle for the LORD, his nation, or against "the king's enemies." Saul, however, consistently showed disdain and disregard for David, taking his anger out against him, seeking any possible way to eliminate him. It was a one-way street of respect. Examine your relationships. Are there any "one-way" relationships of respect where you are heading the wrong way? Through your speech to or about that person? With your attitudes and motives? Are you "doing the right thing", but wishing they would just go away? What would life be like if the traffic suddenly turned direction? Would you be run over by hate? (Note: Pardon the pic... but remember: It is Saturday. Consider it your Saturday morning cartoon.)