How do you learn to value others?

In a world where competition is often emphasized, it's easy to lose sight of the importance of valuing others. Yet this is a crucial aspect of our spiritual and relational life towards others. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and value them. In this article, we'll look at how the Bible teaches us this value, and how we can apply it to our daily lives.

1. Understanding others :
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would like to receive in return. To understand others, we need to practice empathy and put our own needs aside. This attitude is crucial to valuing others. We can learn this by listening to others and seeking to understand their feelings, their history, their needs and desires.

2. Don't judge:
In James 4:12, we learn that there is only one judge and that it is not up to us to judge. We can't decide on a person's worth, because we don't know all the circumstances of their life. We must refrain from making judgments and respect each individual in their singularity.

3. Loving others :
In John 13:34, Jesus asks us to love others as he has loved us. Love is the supreme value we can offer others. Love gives value to the person and elicits in them a response of gratitude and joy. We are called to offer this unconditional love to all, friends, family and strangers alike.

4. Encourage others :
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we are encouraged to build each other up and encourage one another. Words of encouragement and acts of kindness are simple but effective ways of giving value to others. We can, for example, offer a smile, a compliment, a word of encouragement or practical help.

5. Seek the good of others :
In Philippians 2:3-4, we learn not to seek our own interest, but to seek the good of others. We are called to be altruistic and to put our neighbor's needs before our own. This can manifest itself in concrete acts, such as giving our time, money or talents to help others.

Christianity teaches us to give value to others by practicing empathy, not judging, loving, encouraging and seeking the good of others. We can apply these principles in our daily lives, giving value to those around us. By practicing these principles, we will be instruments of God's goodness in the world, and help build a society where valuing others is a primary value.

God bless you all!