A neophyte devotee only respects the Deities, he or she has no regard for the devotees. As one progress from this neophyte stage to intermediate practice of devotional service, a symptom is that one starts developing love and affection for devotees.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna describes where a materialistic person’s intelligence is situated. He says,
yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke
sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ
yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij
janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ
“One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worshipable, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth—such a person is no better than a cow or an ass.” SB 10.84 13

His atma-buddhih (identification) is I am this body.
His sva-buddhih (what is mine) is dedicated for his wife, children and the rest.
His ijya-buddhih (what is worshippable) is that he considers the land of his birth to be worshippable.
His tirtha-buddhih (place of pilgrimage) is that he only sees the place of pilgrimage as a place for taking bath and clear of his sins, and not associate with the holy people there.

In Jaiva Dharma, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura states where a devotee’s buddhi is situated.He describes them in the category of a madhyama-adhikari (intermediate devotee).

What is the mood and identification of a devotee? Four qualities are found in his dealings with devotees.

His atma-buddhih is he considers devotees more dear than his own self.
His mamata-buddhih is he has intimate affection for the devotees.
His ijya-buddhih is he considers devotees worshippable.
His tirtha-buddhih is he considers devotees as places of pilgrimage.

Lord Caitanya exemplified these principles of devotional service in his manifest pastimes. He would personally garland each and every devotee and apply sandalwood pulp when the devotees would come from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri for their four month stay. He would daily go to meet Haridas Thakura at Siddha Bakul and offer him Jagannatha prasadam. He could not refuse the requests of his devotees and thus he delayed his going to Vrindavan. Mahaprabhu would embrace the body of Sanatana Goswami every single day when some kind of sores had developed in his body, and Mahaprabhu would say that he is getting purified due to touching the body of Sanatana.

Mahaprabhu said,
tomāra deha tumi kara bībhatsa-jñāna
tomāra deha āmāre lāge amṛta-samāna
“You consider your body dangerous and awful, but I think that your body is like nectar.”

Yudhisthira Maharaja considered Vidura to be place of pilgrimage personified. Narottama Dasa Thakura had so much affection for Ramachandra Kaviraja that he could not tolerate separation from him. Bhakti Ratnakara is full of descriptions of devotees worshipping other devotees with all their heart. For instance, when all Vaishnavas came to Srikhanda, Raghunandana Thakura with all his disciples made elaborate arrangements and all facilities for all the Vaishnavas.

Scriptures are filled with examples of devotee relationships, and following the above mentioned four principles.

If we wish to check how much we have progressed in the path of pure devotional service, this is a very healthy criteria by which we can understand. To the degree we find ourselves lacking in this, to that degree we should intensely desire and make the required attempts. Then we can safely and easily cross over this material ocean which is extremely difficult to cross.