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“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, New International Version)
When I was a kid in school, we were taught “The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.“ A lot of people know that rule and don’t know that it came from the words of Jesus.
I’ve also hear variations of that rule that are culturally apropos:
“Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.”
“Do unto others … and run!”
“He who has the gold makes the rules.”
If I am going to do unto others what I would like them to do unto me, I would like to give them a piece of coconut cream pie. Anyone who would like to do that unto me can send me a message and I’ll let you know where to deliver it.
Sometimes we really do see the Golden Rule as a favor exchange. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. If we take that approach, it is easy to begin keeping score and to begin withholding blessings, compassion, and respect from those who are not living up to their end of the bargain.
My personal favorite translation of this verse is the New American Standard: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you …”
When I begin to think of how I want to be TREATED, that is different from what I want people to DO for me. I want to be treated with respect and compassion. I want to be heard. I want to be valued. I want to be understood. I want to be prayed for. And if someone disagrees with me, I want them to share their disagreement with my beliefs and opinions without attacking me personally.
If that is the way I want to be treated, then that is the way I should treat people–NOT so they will treat me that way and NOT only IF they treat me that way, but because that’s how Jesus told me to live.
Question: If you were to change ONE THING about the way you tend to treat others, what would it be?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
