Being Courteous Costs Us Nothing

 

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Romans 12:16

I was out with my grand-daughter, when a friend of mine said “Hello.” The little girl ignored the greeting. I said, “Oh, she is stuck up.” And, that resulted in a laugh from my friend.

When I was in high school in the 1960’s one of the worst labels anyone could receive was “She is stuck up.” This implied that the individual was self-important and nobody liked them.

Paul warns us against displaying a haughty or stuck up spirit because it does not reflect the love of God which is in us. We are urged to associate with the lowly, or those who appear to have less than us economically, socially or spiritually. Note that the scripture says to “associate with the lowly” not necessarily to become like them. We don’t need to rob a bank to minister to a thief.

Being courteous cost us nothing and does much to further the Gospel.