". . . Be courteous." 1 Peter 3:8
Someone has said, "The mark of refinement and culture is courtesy." Webster defines courtesy as "politeness combined with kindliness." The Greek word used in our text is philanthropos, from which our English word "philanthropy" comes. Webster again defines a "philanthropist" as "one who loves and seeks to benefit mankind." Every Christian should be a philanthropist, which means he should be courteous. Courtesy is a frame of heart and mind - not just an outward show of false refinement. Courtesy means having regard for others.
I came a bit late to a meeting and could not find a parking place within three blocks of the church. Yet in the church parking lot there would have been room for twenty-five more cars if the people of the church knew the meaning of courtesy. They just parked their cars in any old way - right angles, parallel, and with a space of four or five feet between cars (just close enough so no one else would get in). If I were not a Christian, I would hesitate to attend a church of such crude, discourteous members who did not consider anyone else.
Why will men remove their hats and step aside to admit a lady into the elevator, and then embarrass some bewildered woman driver at a red light by honking the horn and making some slurring remark about "women drivers"? Why will a husband, out in company, politely pull out the chair to seat his wife - while at home he doesn't give a thought to assist his wife by even wiping his feet when he comes in? Why does a big, fat woman plunk on the end of the pew and make everybody else stumble over her feet to get in? "End seat hogs," we call them.
"Bread For Each Day"
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