I recently had a situation where someone boldly and bluntly disrespected me. This guy should have been expressing gratefulness, but instead, he was ungrateful and dishonoring.
While I was troubled by this young leader’s attitude and action, I have become more troubled by my reaction, especially by my mental conversations that no one hears but God and me.
“Doesn’t this guy know how much I have helped him? Who does he think he is to dishonor me? Does he realize who I am? Don’t I deserve at least a little respect?”
That last one is the killer. Any consideration of what we have earned or what we deserve because of our leadership sacrifices stinks of entitlement. Warning: entitlement is a slippery slope that destroys leaders.
Jesus never seemed bothered or offended when people dishonored and disrespected him. Probably because he never felt entitled. He was mocked, flogged, unjustly crucified, yet he did not react.
While being questioned by Pilate, Jesus kept his peace and did not defend himself even though blatant lies were being told about him. Pilate’s response to Jesus is typical of insecure and entitled leaders. “Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” (John 19:10)
When threatened, insecure leaders always throw around their authority and their title. Secure leaders do not.
As a leader, how do you handle dishonor and disrespect?
