How You Treat People Says a Lot About You

It’s easy to be kind when there’s something in it for you. But what about when there isn’t?

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw looks at how we treat people who can’t give us anything in return. Looking at Luke 6:35 and Philippians 2:3, this devotional challenges you to think about everyday interactions and what they reveal about your heart.

If you’ve never really thought about how you treat people in those situations, this episode will give you something to consider.

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Transcript

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Have you given much thought to how you treat people when there's nothing in it for you? I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. It's natural to give more attention to people who matter to us, the people we know, the people we like, the people who can help us in some way. But what about the people who can't? In Luke 6, verse 35, Jesus says to love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting anything back. That's a different way of living. It's not based on what you get in return, but on choosing to treat people the right way regardless. I remember being at a restaurant with a friend, and the way he treated the waitress caught me off guard. He was rude, dismissive, and talked to her like she didn't matter. I remember sitting there thinking, wow, this is hard to watch. It was pretty embarrassing. But it made me think about how I handle those same situations. Not when I'm trying to make a good impression, and not when it benefits me, but in the everyday interactions most people don't think twice about. And I'm being real here, if I'm going to give myself a grade at this moment in time, probably a B minus. But my wife Sherry, A plus. She's the perfect example of how to do this right. She's always kind and welcoming to people, even when the other person isn't exactly a bundle of joy. I should know. She's had to live with me for thirty-five years. But seriously, she treats people with respect, no matter who they are. There's no calculation behind it. She's just consistent. That's what this comes down to. Because it's easy to be kind when there's a reason, when it benefits you, when it's noticed, or when it comes back around in some way. But when there's no return, that's when you really see what's driving you. I don't know about you, but here's something that happens to me more often than not. I'm at a party, I start talking to someone, and right when I'm in mid-sentence, he starts talking to someone else. Rude?

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Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Yeah. That kind of thing makes you feel small, insignificant. Philippians 2 verse 3 says to value others above yourself. That doesn't play out in big dramatic ways most of the time. It's in those simple interactions with people who may never be able to give anything back to you. So it's worth asking, how do you treat people in those situations? And I don't mean this to tear yourself down, but really take a real look, because that's usually where you see what's really going on. Lord, help us treat people with kindness and respect, no matter who they are or what they can offer us. Give us a heart that values others the way you do. Help us live out what we say we believe. In Jesus' name. Amen. As you go through your day, pay attention to how you treat the people around you, especially the ones who can't do anything for you. And if Faith Fuel has been helpful to you, take a second to leave a rating or review. It really does help more people find it. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.