Here’s a question for you. Which would you prefer? To be liked, or to be respected? Easy question? Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s walk through this.

To be liked . . .
You are popular, at least for a season. People smile and welcome you when you walk into a room. Life is a little easier. Expectations are a little lower. You are simply accepted. You receive Christmas cards whether you send them or not. You get invited to the cool kids’ parties. You’re good enough. You’re smart enough. And doggonnit, people like you! But you would give it all up for just a little respect.

To be respected . . .
People guard what they say around you. You rarely see the “real” side of people. You are held to a constantly higher and often unrealistic standard. You are from time to time misquoted, and your name is often used for the gain of those whom you do not necessarily endorse. You are targeted and maligned. You are worshiped and revered. Your are unnecessarily credited, wrongly accused. And through it all, all you really want is to be liked.

I challenge you to look at those around you, at home, at work, at church, on the news. To whom do you offer your allegiance? Who do you like? Who do you respect? We see evidence of the above so much, even on the news. Reagan is revered now as one of the greatest US Presidents of all time. But when he was in office, he suffered the same sneers and jeers as any modern-day political leader. Respect.

We see Brittany Spears leave rehab as she tries to pick up the pieces of a shattered psychological existence. Front page news for the girl we praised and lifted up as a pop icon just two years earlier. Then we flip the channel and shake our heads. That poor girl. What’s the weather tomorrow? Yep, Brittany. We liked her.

America is starving for respectful leaders. Our homes are starving for respectful fathers. Believers are starving for respectable examples. And I firmly believe that men in general are starving for respect. But we are too concerned with being liked.

Like vs. respect. I think I know which I prefer.