Greetings and blessings to you all, I am greatly humbled to be given this opportunity to present

on this platform. In this presentation, I shall be focusing on how one can attain/earn respect
since a lot of things have already been covered by our previous presenters.

*RESPECT*

*How* *to* *earn* *respect*

The Myth: “The more we have the more respect we will have”, this is an empty lie, it is what
society makes us believe. In this shallow world that we find ourselves in today, people have
been made to believe that respect is afforded to those who have managed to accumulate
wealth.

*However* , the TRUTH is the key to earning respect is not about material things but it's about
the character because character shows what/who you are in the inside. It's about how God sees
us. You have to ask yourself:

*Am I living for self?

*Or Am I living for God?

*Or am I living for others?

It is the people that live for God and for others that are respected. What I mean by ‘living for
others’ is not seeking to please people or wanting to be seen or acknowledged by people, but
being available for others when they need you. Seek to develop your character, develop your
heart and build yourself into a person that God wants you to be. Have respect for others.

_Why_ _earning_ _respect_ _so_ _important_ ?

i. Respected people are trusted

ii. Respected people are listened to

Therefore, we should be aware of the fact that the road to earning respect is not going to be
smooth sailing. It is going to require consistency, diligence and attention to detail. You have to
watch what you say, how you live and the actions you take.

*The character traits you should develop to earn respect and get where God wants us to* *be*
*are* :
*1. Speak with integrity*

The terminology of this trait is quite clear. Proverbs (NKJV version) 23:16 says, “…Yes, my
inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things”. University study shows that 60% of
people cannot have a 10 minutes conversation without lying at least once. However, God is so
clear throughout the bible that lying is wrong, hence I believe God wants us to be the people
that speak the truth/ with integrity at all time. Even in today's culture that turns a blind eye to
integrity, God desires that we as the body of Christ should be sanctified from the world and
represent Christ with integrity. Jesus is the embodiment of the truth, in other words, Jesus was
truth personified, In John 14: 6 he says' I am the way, and the TRUTH and the life…' and God
wants us to be like him.

Integrity is linked to dependability, it is not good to say something that you know you are not
going to deliver on (promises). Proverbs 25:15 says ‘By long forbearance, a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone’. The bible says we have to be set apart from the world,
hence we have to speak with wisdom and follow-through, failure to do this will result in the loss
of your credibility and ultimately people will lose their respect for you since it is difficult to
respect someone who does not deliver on their promises.

Proverbs 10:5 ‘ He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who
causes shame'. Therefore, when you have integrity in word and action you feel good about who
you are and that your life is worth something.

*2. Serve with intensity*

This trait speaks on being able to bloom where you are planted. Wherever you find yourself (In
a workplace or school environment) serve honourably, respecting those in authority. Proverbs
14:22 ‘Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise
good’. Hence, you ought to be the very best version of yourself to be respected. It is through
serving honourably that you will see people being elevated to a higher position at work or even
at school. DL Moody says “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how
many he serves”, we have to serve others, you have to grow out of the self-serving mentality if
you want to earn respect. Proverbs 11:17 ‘ The merciful man does good for his soul, But he who
is cruel troubles his flesh’. Live and serve with intensity.

*3. Give generously*

Proverbs 22:9 says 'He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the
poor.’ You don’t have to be rich to give generously, remember the woman who was
commended by Jesus for giving her 2penny because she gave with her whole heart. A wise man
once said, "We make a living by what we earn, but we make a life by how we give.” Therefore,
generous people earn respect and they also find themselves being blessed by God. It doesn’t
have to be material things, just being kind is equated to giving material things, the most
important thing is the condition of your heart when you give.

*4. Live with humility*

Live humbly. Proverbs 29:23 says, 'A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will
retain honour’

1Corinthians 10:12 ‘ Therefore let him who thinks he stands to take heed lest he falls.' The way
to earning respect is not about being perfect, it is about being open, real and humble because
when you humble yourselves God will exalt you in due time (1Peter 5:6).

_Becoming like Jesus_ _Christ is the best way to_ _earn respect_ .

Thank you!🏾