The ability to understand others

One of the greatest challenges of our time is to understand and value others. Indeed, we are constantly confronted with cultural, religious, political and socio-economic differences, which can sometimes make communication and relationships difficult. That's why it's crucial to learn to understand others in order to give them value. In this blog-post, we'll look at how the Bible can help us develop this ability.

1. The Bible calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Indeed, Jesus himself taught that this commandment was one of the most important (Mark 12:31). Loving one's neighbor means not only showing affection or empathy, but also caring about his or her needs and concerns. It means being attentive to what the other person says, expresses or feels, and seeking to understand rather than judge them.

2. The Bible invites us to practice patience and kindness towards others.

1 Corinthians 13:4 teaches us that love is patient and kind, not self-seeking or easily irritated. Giving value to others therefore also means being patient, tolerant and generous towards their weaknesses and differences. It also means practicing modesty and humility, recognizing that we are not superior to others.

3. The Bible urges us to seek peace and harmony with others.

Romans 12:18 encourages us to live in peace with everyone, as far as possible. Giving value to others means being ready to compromise and find peaceful solutions to conflicts. It also means communicating clearly and respectfully, and being ready to listen to the opinions of others.

4. The Bible exhorts us to treat others as we would like to be treated.

This golden rule, taught by Jesus himself in Matthew 7:12, means that we should treat others with the same dignity, respect and generosity that we would like to receive. It means being aware of our own actions and attitudes, and being ready to question and apologize when we're wrong.

5. The Bible gives us the ultimate example of the selfless love of God, who gave his only Son so that we might have eternal life.

By loving and valuing others, we reflect God's love in our lives. Giving value to others is not just a human capacity, but a divine grace that manifests itself in us. So, by understanding and valuing others, we come closer to God and to our own humanity.

Learning to give value to others is an ongoing process that requires patience, empathy, modesty and selfless love.

The Bible offers us many examples and teachings on how we can develop this crucial ability. By practicing these principles, we can improve our relationships with others, strengthen our own sense of self-worth and draw closer to God and our own humanity.

Shalom!