I have not always been the type of person to put others first.  I’ll admit that many times in life I have been extremely selfish.  That was before I understood the definition of joy.  Joy, is something I want in life, and before you start thinking joy is the same as happiness think again.  Joy comes from our Heavenly Father, but it comes when we operate in the mindset of J-O-Y, Jesus, Others, Yourself.  Putting things in that perspective and order in life will truly bring you “joy”.

Biblical tools.org explains joy this way,

“Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not the end in itself. It flows into and grows within the person whose life and energies are not focused merely on being “joyful.” The lives of those in this world who are so zealously chasing after it prove this point. If they are still chasing it, they must not yet have it. God’s Word also substantiates this.”

I don’t know about you, but I am willing to do what it takes to be joyful. I want to sing to the top of my lungs the song from my childhood, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, where, down in my heart, where, down in my heart, I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, where, down in my heart to stay” and mean it with my whole heart. What about you?

Good manners, they are something we may all hope that our children possess, but have you ever really thought about why manners are practiced? Recently, I learned that it is not common practice for young people to say “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” in more Northern states, however, it is common practice and considered to be rude by children if they do not use these terms in the South. Growing up in the South, I have always practiced these terms of what we consider respect and have also taught my children to do the same.

Recently, in my Back to the Basics of Life Seminar Series, I taught on the subject of Etiquette and Manners and the question arose whether manners were “Biblical”. I did base the lesson around certain key verses of Scripture that I had already considered, but after being posed with this question I decided to do some more digging in Scripture to see what else the Bible had to say about manners. I found more than I had imagined.

The following are some examples:

“Even a child is known by his actions,by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)

This verse tells us that we are to teach out children about correct conduct. We must of course search further in Scripture to determine what is “pure and right”.

We can find some examples in these verses:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:31 (NIV)

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”

Phillippians 1:27 (NIV)

All of these verses talk about how we are to conduct ourselves, from the way that we talk to the way that we act and treat others. To me, manners is all about “respect”, respect for God and man, showing others Christ through the way that we act and conduct ourselves. Manners can also be more specific however, basic manners respect yourself, God, your body, the body of Christ and those around you.

Other Scriptures for your reference include:

Luke 10:8

Proverbs 11:17

Psalm 141:3

1 Peter 4:9

1 Timothy 6: 18-19

Proverbs 15:8

Ephesians 6:1

Romans 12:13

Hebrews 10:24

Matthew 22:39

1 Peter 2:17