Every time I attend worship, older people like me more than people my age. Why are older people so much nicer and more respectful than young people? There are no young people as nice and respectful as older people. I wish our young people were nice like older people.<\/p>\n\t
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one<\/em>” (Colossians 4:6).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Since you are among the young people, I would hope that you, at least, are an exception to the rule.<\/p>\n
Politeness is something which is taught and, unfortunately, parents in our country are less involved in the raising of their children than they were years ago. For older people, politeness is a long-established habit. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it<\/em>” (Proverbs 22:6). Young people will eventually be forced into learning politeness. You can’t make it very far in the business world without some degree of manners.<\/p>\n
With age also comes wisdom. Older people understand that politeness costs you nothing and gains you much. “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse<\/em>” (Proverbs 10:32). Young people often make the mistake of thinking that the way to excel is to tear everyone around you down until you are the only one left. Older people realize that everyone benefits when each person is encouraged to reach their highest potential. “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up<\/em>” (Ecclesiastes 10:12).<\/p>\n
“The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones<\/em>” (Proverbs 16:21-24).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
You can’t make the young people do what is right, but you can set the example. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble’<\/em>” (I Peter 5:5). You won’t see an immediate reaction, except perhaps scoffing from your peers, but in time they are going to notice a vast difference between the way that they are treated and the way you are treated by other people. Then the lessons will begin to settle into their hearts. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity<\/em>” (I Timothy 4:12). I used this verse in my lesson last night when I was pointing that preaching is only partly about the words you say. Preaching is also about the life you live. And when the two are in harmony they present a powerful message. (See: “Take Heed<\/a>“).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Every time I attend worship, older people like me more than people my age. Why are older people so much nicer and more respectful than young people? There are no young people as nice and respectful as older people. I wish our young people were nice like older people. Answer: “Let your speech always…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[775,1150,309],"class_list":["post-19121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-elderly","tag-manners","tag-youth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4389,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-are-honor-and-respect\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":0},"title":"What are honor and respect?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 1, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What are honor and respect? Answer: Honor is used in two different senses. We can speak of a person's honor and we can talk about giving honor to another person. A person's honor is his integrity. It is the idea of doing what is right in all situations. \"Repay\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32181,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-bible-speak-against-getting-married-at-a-young-age\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":1},"title":"Does the Bible speak against getting married at a young age?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm currently 17, and I'm engaged to a man who is 25. I am ready for marriage and understand what comes with marriage. I'm aware it is not a game and that it is not easy. Does the Bible speak against getting married young? We have never had sex\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34830,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-parents-cant-make-you-go-to-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":2},"title":"Your Parents Can’t Make You Go to Heaven!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ted J. Clarke One of the greatest miseries of being a child is being made to do things that a child does not want to do. Eating vegetables, brushing teeth, taking a bath, cleaning one's room, going to Aunt June's, going to school, attending worship and Bible study --\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63896,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jamaica-patois-wisdom-experience\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":3},"title":"Jamaica Patois Wisdom \u2013 Experience","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/old-broom-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":35177,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/young-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":4},"title":"Young People","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hugh Fulford As is the case with old people, the Bible has much to say about young people. In some respects, both \"young\" and \"old\" are relative terms. Even after I was in my 60s, I would sometimes be told, \"You are still a young man.\" To me, anyone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/youths-300x168.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16853,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/there-are-people-talking-playing-and-walking-around-during-worship-am-i-being-too-critical-to-say-this-is-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":19121,"position":5},"title":"There are people talking, playing, and walking around during worship. Am I being too critical to say this is wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 15, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When I go into the Lord's house my main focus is worship. 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