Jesus said: “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”

Shawn Mendes’ song “Treat You Better” is a song that shows some domestic violence in the video, and at the end of the video, the domestic violence hotline is listed. It is the story of a young man who knows that the girlfriend that he would like is dating someone else, but that someone else is not treating her correctly. He sings that he knows the other person is not right for her, and he senses that she knows it also. “I know I can treat you better than he can,” he sings, “And any girl like you deserves a gentleman.” He asks her why she’s spending time with him, and begs her to come over to him. In fact, he sings, “I’ll stop time for you the second you say you’d like me to; I promise I’ll never let you down.”

In the area of how we Christians should treat one another, perhaps the most poignant example that Jesus gave to his Apostles and therefore to us, is his action at the Last Supper as recorded by John the Evangelist. Jesus became a true servant as he washed his Apostles’ feet. Then he told his followers to “wash one another’s feet” since he was their model and teacher. That is to say, the way we should treat one another is with the utmost respect, as a good servant ought to treat his/her master.

Another way to view showing respect for others is with the thought of how we want others to treat us. We most definitely want others to show us the virtues that we deem important. We like to be treated with kindness, with respect, with honor even if at times with more than we deserve. It makes us feel good and ready to face a world that at times is somewhat hostile. And if we learn to treat others the same way, our world may become a little less hostile.

Whatever our motivation, it is a truly Christian message that we must treat others well. In Shawn Mendes’ song, “Treat You Better,” someone is not treating the girlfriend of the man in the song with the respect and honor that she deserves. He therefore tells her quite correctly that she should get out of the relationship. Of course, he wants her to come to him, but whether she does or not, she should follow his advice and leave that relationship. It is a good rule to say that if either in the party becomes physical in a negative way–slapping, hitting, grabbing someone with too much force or the like–then the relationship must stop.

The fact is that too often we treat others well only when we think we can get something from the other. Jesus reminds us that in any relationship we must treat others well by becoming their servants and allowing that to be our guide.

Good and gracious God, Your Son has taught us the lesson to treat others well by telling us to become servants to all. Give us the grace to accept His lesson a little more into our lives, romantic and otherwise. Be with us, we pray.

We are called to treat everyone well.

1. Of course, we do not literally “wash one another’s feet.” What does the phrase mean in our modern world?
2. In your opinion, do most Christians try to follow the example of Jesus in their lives? Yes or no and why?
3. If you are aware of domestic violence among your friends, what should you do?
4. Analysis: many songs use the word “never”–“I’ll never let you down.” Do you believe that we should use the words like “never” and “forever” to describe our relationships? Yes or no and why?
5. How does one treat another with the utmost respect?
6. What does the song “Treat You Better” teach young people?