We all want to be well respected and honored in life. Here are four principles to guide us.
There is a man in the Bible named Job (pronounced “Jobe”). We don’t know much about him except he was rich, godly and lived about the time of Abraham. There is a book in the Bible named after him.
Job chapter 1, verse 1 says he was “blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.” We should follow his example.
The first two are about his relationship with people.
Principle #1: Job was BLAMELESS.
No one could point a finger at him and say, “It’s your fault; you’re to blame.” He knew his stuff. He did the right thing, even if it cost extra time and money.
Our work changes fast. Electric propulsion and autonomous vessels. Digitization. Less crew, more work. Our interactions with family, friends and strangers are changing as well. Traditional relationships and responsibilities within families are changing…fast. We must be lifelong learners and lifelong adapters. No excuse to say, “Sorry, I didn’t know that.” Let’s be remembered for living a “right” life.
Every situation has a right way and a wrong way. It always costs extra time, money and emotions to do it right. But it will cost more if we do it the easy or wrong way: lost job, lost reputation, lost friends and even lost family.
Principle #2: Job was UPRIGHT.
Job was totally honest. His word was his word. No lying. No half-truths that could be twisted later. He didn’t do shady, under-the-table deals.
He was impeccably moral. Women felt valued and safe around him. No inappropriate talk or gawking. He didn’t live a dark, second life in the shadows. No drugs and drunkenness.
People respect integrity and morality. All of us have done things we deeply regret and will never forget. We've hurt others. But when we did wrong, we admitted it, made amends, sought forgiveness, changed our life, and did our best to fix it. And our long and growing trend in life is always toward honesty and morality.
The second two are about his relationship with God.
Principle #3: Job FEARED GOD.
Job feared God like we ‘fear’ the ocean. We fear the fierce, unstoppable power the ocean has over us. It can destroy us. Yet when we sail by the rules of nature, it is our friend that takes us around the world.
Job trembled before God because God is Righteous, All-Powerful and Eternal. But he knew he could talk with God as we talk with a good father. He obeyed God out of respect and honour.
A respected life is lived in fearful reverence for a righteous God who is pure, just, loving and kind. Reverence and love for a holy God keeps us from breaking godly rules of civility, integrity and morality.
Principle #4: Job SHUNNED EVIL.
“Shunning” means “turning away from.” Job shunned sin. He recognized sinful situations ahead of time and turned away.
Captains make decisions ahead of time so they don’t have to deal with consequences later, like turning away from storms or sensing when port officials are hinting at a bribe.
Learn to spot when a conversation shifts toward conflict or immorality. Recognize how situations and places begin to turn toward temptation and sin. Set a hard “No point.” That’s when we stop and turn away.
Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.” If we face a tempting situation and must ask ourselves if it is right or wrong, it’s usually too late.
Pray, “Lord, open a way of escape.” He does. Often it is quiet and non-confrontational. Usually we graciously discover “something else that needs to be done.”
A well-respected life begins again every day. Maintain a legacy of being an well-respected man.
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