"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a biblical concept spoken by Jesus in Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12; it is commonly referred to as the "Golden Rule." "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). "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31).
John similarly records, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35).
The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible comments on Luke 6:31, "Many think that the Golden Rule is merely reciprocal, as if we act based on how we want to be treated. But other parts of this section downplay this focus on reciprocity, and, in fact, reverse it (vv. 27-30, 32-35). At the end of the section, Jesus gives a different basis for our actions: we should imitate God the Father (v. 36)."
Our response to God's grace should be to extend it to others; we love because he first loved us, therefore, let us love others as we are loved. This is the simple, yet difficult to live out command. Let's take a deeper look at how we can live this out each day.
In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus said, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.No other commandment is greater than these. Without doing the first part, you really dont have the ability to even try the second part. When you strive to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you gain the help of the Holy Spirit which helps you to love other people.
Some people may say that its in our nature to do good to others. After all, there has been a random act of kindness movement for a long time. But, in general, most people only help other people when:
1. Its their friend or family.2. Its convenient for them.3. Theyre in a good mood, or4. They expect something in return.
But the Bible doesnt say do random acts of kindness when youre feeling good. It says to love others at all times. It even says love your enemies as well as those that persecute you. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you any different from anyone else. Everybody does that (Matthew 5:47). Loving everyone at all times is a much tougher task to accomplish. Its imperative to allow the Holy Spirit to help you.
It comes down to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would like them to do to you (Luke 6:31). In other words, treat all like you want to be treated, and more than that treat all as God has treated you.If you want to be treated nicely, treat someone else nicely; treat someone else nicely because of the grace you have been given. So that regardless of how you feel in any given situation, you can offer grace like the grace God extends to you daily. Youre probably thinking that sometimes you are nicevery niceand in return you get contempt from some people. Unfortunately, this can and will happen. People dont always treat you they way they want to be treated or the way you want to be treated. But that doesnt mean that you can stop doing the right thing. Dont let someone pull you into their web of uncaring harshness. Two wrongs never make a right, and vengeance does not belong to us.
Everyone is hurt or has been hurt in some way in this world; nobody has the perfect life. The hurts of life can harden me and make me bitter, therefore, causing me to only look out for myself. Selfishness will never enable me to grow and move forward. It is easy for hurt people to continue the cycle of hurting other people whether they realize it or not. People stuck in a mindset of hurt tend to wrap a cocoon of protection around themselves so tightly that all they see is themselves. But if everyone hurts in some way, how do we stop this cycle of hurting others?
Hurts don't have to harden me; I can become better because of them. It's OK to let myself feel the hurt deeply, but instead of toughening up, I can allow God to give me a new perspective. A perspective of empathy because I understand what a particular pain feels like. There is always someone else who is going through what Ive already gone through. This is a big way I can "do unto others" to help them get through the pains of life, but I must shed my hardened shell first. Sharing with others about my own pain begins the process. Vulnerability or risking hurt myself is being real with them, and hopefully, they will see that I am genuinely there for them.
In order to truly love others do good for them, we must put ourselves in their shoes. and When I am always thinking about myself and what I need to do, I often dont notice what others around me are really going through. Life can get busy, but I need to force myself to look around. There are usually more opportunities to help others if Id only take the time to really see them and their needs. Everyone is worried about their own duties, goals, and dreams but Scripture says to not be concerned for my own good but for the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:24).
Working hard to accomplish a goal can be a good, even godly, thing. But the best goals incorporate helping others into them. A person can study hard in medical school in order to create a lifestyle they want, or they can study hard in order to cure their patients ailments. Adding in the motivation of helping others makes any goal much better.
There are two big temptations when I compare myself to another person. One is to think I am better than them. The other is to think I am not-as-good as them. Neither is helpful; fight the comparison trap. When I compare, I see the other person through my filter; therefore, Im looking at them but thinking of me. Comparison wants me to keep my eyes on me. Only compare your self of today with the self of your yesterday. Am I acting better today than I did yesterday? Not perfect but better. If the answer is yes, praise God; if the answer is no, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Seek guidance from the Lord every day because we can't be better on our own.
Shedding thoughts of yourself as much as possible, and reflecting on who God is, will keep you on the track of helping others.
I was once dead in my own sin and disobedience. While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. I had nothing to offer Christ, but he reached out to me. He died for me. Now, I have a brand new life in him. Because of grace, I have a new chance to do better each and every day and the assurance that he will never leave me nor forsake me. He died for you too.
Then respond by loving other people with the love that you receive daily. Work hard to live in harmony with everyone you come in contact with (Philippians 2:1-2).
Jesus made it simple by saying love others, and when we truly love others we will be doing many, many good deeds. The New Testament has many commands about doing unto others, which shows us the importance God places on loving others as we have been loved. We are able to love at all only because he first loved us.
Live at peace and in harmony with others; be patient with them because people learn at different rates, and people change at different times. Bear with them as they learn one step at a time. God didnt give up on you so dont give up on them. Be devoted to other people, love them deeply, care for them, and spend time with them. Listen to them, give accommodation and honor where it is warranted, be concerned for others equally, and dont favor the rich over the poor or vice versa.
Dont judge others harshly; even if their actions are wrong, look with compassion at their whys for doing it. Accept them as a person made in God's image even in their wrongdoing. They may or may not be convicted and see the error of their own ways when you listen to them, but when someone feels continually condemned they won't be able to see the hope that is in grace. Even worse, than judging others to their face, is complaining and slandering them behind their back. Nothing good ever comes out of slander and gossip, even when youre just venting your frustration.
Teach others, share with them, encourage and spur them on, and build them up. If youre musical, sing to them. If youre artistic, make them something beautiful to remind them that God's goodness reigns in a fallen world. When you make others feel better, you cant help but feel better yourself. Thats how God designed us: to love, to care, to build up, to share, to be gracious and grateful.
Sometimes all that it takes to encourage someone is to greet them where they are and be fully present with them. This hardened and fallen world often leaves off courtesies; so, even a smile and a simple hello can go far in helping people not feel alone. Serve others, offer hospitality, and figure out what they need in life and fill that need in some way. May your acts of love, point them to Christ's ultimate love for them. Do they need a babysitter? Do they need a hot meal? Do they need cash to get them through the month? You dont have to do everything, just step in and do something in order to lift some of their burden. When people have a need that you cant fulfill, pray for them and encourage them. You may not know the answer to their problem, but God does.
Let go of all your grievances and let God sort them out. Your own trek forward will be hindered or even stopped if you dont. Tell them the truth. If you see something they may need to change about their life, tell them honestly but kindly. Admonish others from time to time; words of warning are easier to hear from a friend. Little lies wont save them from hearing bad things from others. Lies only serve to save yourself from feeling uncomfortable.
Confess your own sins to others. Give testimony about how you used to be but by Gods grace you arent anymore. Admit sins, admit weaknesses, admit fears, and do this in front of other people. Never have a holier-than-thou attitude. We all have sin and fall short of what we really want to be like, and we all need grace that comes from faith in Christ alone. Use your God-given gifts and talents to serve others. Share what youre good at with others; dont keep it to yourself. Dont let the fear of rejection stop you from showing grace to others.
Finally, submit to one another out of your reverence for Christ. After all, he didnt think of himself. He took a humble position of coming to earth as a human being to make a way for us to get to heaven and to show us the way to live. He even died on the cross to seal the deal, once and for all. Jesus way is to think of others more often than ourselves, and he set the example for us. What you do for others, you do for him. You begin by loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. That leads you to love others as much as you can, and those acts of loving others are also acts of loving him. Its a beautiful circle of love and the way that we were all meant to live.
Related: What Does "Love the Lord with All Your Heart" Mean in the Bible?
Jennifer Heerenloves to write and wants to live in such a way that people are encouraged by her writing and her attitude. She loves to write devotional articles and stories that bring people hope and encouragement. Her cup is always at least half-full, even when circumstances arent ideal. She regularly contributes to Crosswalk. Her debut novel is available onAmazon. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Visit her ather websiteand/or onFacebook.
Photo credit:GettyImages/Rawpixel
The rest is here:
What Does "Do Unto Others" (The Golden Rule) Mean in the Bible?
- This Is My New Golden Rule for Renting Vacation Homes (I Was Doing It All Wrong) - Yahoo Life - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Misguided culture warriors should heed the golden rule [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Michael L. Fischler: Anger and The Golden Rule - The Union Leader - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Dog trainer reveals her golden rule for recall training (we can't believe how simple it is!) - Yahoo Life - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Fr. Aristides Palaynes and the Golden Rule Community - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- How Lulu still looks fabulous at 75, from her skincare 'golden rule' to refusing to take lifts - as star revea - Daily Mail - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Ken Henry: We are breaking the 'golden rule' of economic policy - ABC News - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule and the Free Market - Foundation for Economic Education - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett share their golden rule for successful parenting - The Times of India - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Live music at The Golden Rule Coffee House on Friday, March 8 - Redwood Falls Gazette - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have always followed one relationship rule - Marie Claire UK - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule - A Way of Life - County 10 News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Dear Annie: Nurses Golden Rule might be the answer to relationship problems - MLive.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Aitana's golden rule and the pending account she has with her most loyal audience - WECB - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Guest columnist David Hernndez: Climate, refugees, and the golden rule - GazetteNET - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- A golden rule that should have been followed in North - The Sun Chronicle - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule Refined | | news-journal.com - Longview News-Journal - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Film About The Golden Rule Released in Bali - EIN News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Heres a Golden Rule Jeff Bezos Seems to Have Forgotten: Never Let Your Ego Get in the Way of Doing Business - The Good Men Project - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Universalists to consider the mandate of the Golden Rule - Ashland Daily Press - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- 6-Year-Old Boy Dies a Month After Adult Neighbor Allegedly Beats ... - PEOPLE - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COLUMN: Celebrate Thanksgiving year-round with 'Thanks-living ... - Andalusia Star-News - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Silence is craven, not golden - The Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Sellars CEO Named to Wisconsin 'Titan 100' - Industrial Distribution - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- The most valuable decluttering lessons I have learned | - Homes & Gardens - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COMMENTARY| Bethel: Too much hate | Opinion ... - Bennington Banner - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Cooking with Love Nello's Continues Impress Diners - St. Albert Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- What Happened to James Garner? Inside the 'Maverick' Star's ... - Yahoo Entertainment - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Successful trial of coating that converts UV into PAR boosts sales - hortidaily.com - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Debt rules will affect the most vulnerable, EU trade union chief warns - EURACTIV - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Guest Opinion | Bill Paparian: Pasadena City Hall Believes in the ... - Pasadena Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Golden ratio in venation patterns of dragonfly wings | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Golden Rule Of Data Gathering And New Expectations Of Value ... - The Drum - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Glass gets away with breaking the golden rule - The Irish News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Red Horse Recruiter Ranks First in Class - 125fw.ang.af.mil - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These 19 Birmingham BBQ joints are the ultimate Memorial Day ... - Bham Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mountain West Technologies wins Casper Area Chamber of ... - Cap City News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Unseen Engine of South Florida's Booming Vacation Rental Market: Estaga - Yahoo Finance - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Simon Cowell to break important BGT rule this weekend, ITV confirms - South Wales Argus - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Starting out on the St. Croix: What High School Skiing Taught Jessie ... - fasterskier.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These are the weirdest and least understood pickleball rules and ... - msnNOW - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Media Source Not Showing in OBS? Here's How to Fix It - MUO - MakeUseOf - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Youngkin avoids talk of diversity, politics at VMI graduation - Cardinal News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mother's Day roots: the opposition to war | READER COMMENTARY - Baltimore Sun - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rep. Gallagher says US needs to take off 'golden blindfolds' and 'open our eyes' to China risk - Fox News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Open Heaven 18 May 2023: The Gift of Love - ELANHUB MEDIA - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 10 Best Quotes About Family In The Fast & Furious Franchise - CBR - Comic Book Resources - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Life in the Fast Lane - New DOE Rule Changes Push LNG Projects ... - RBN Energy - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Dont Say That Word- Days After Golden Advice From Wrexhams Ryan Reynolds, NFL Icon JJ Watt Reminds Wife of Unspoken Rule After Burnley Investment -... - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 14 Handy Tricks To Get Better Sleep While Backpacking - The Trek - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Investors overlooking the golden rule as they flock to DIY apps - Stuff - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 7 money 'rules' you can actually break, according to financial experts - MarketWatch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Dorsman: MP Motorsport betting on caution ahead of inevitable ... - Formula 2 - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Boomer explains why millennials are having a hard time at work: 'It's ... - Upworthy - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- AFA.net - Basic Fairness in Women's Sports - American Family Association - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- How To Prep Air Fryer Vegetables So They Don't Escape The Basket - Tasting Table - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Pansexual Flag: Here's what the Pride Flag's colors mean and more - USA TODAY - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- What is the "Rules-Based-Order"? - CounterPunch.org - CounterPunch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Hudson WWII vet turns 100, decides to quit the bocce ball team - Suncoast News - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Kansas City reportedly let Meta developer break diversity rules, then ... - KCUR - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- From the Right: Drawing the line between trans rights and parental ... - The Malibu Times - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- I was 40,000 in debt but got myself out of it here is the rule I swear by and how it changed my life... - The Sun - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- OBITUARY - Mary Anderson - Berthoud Weekly SurveyorBerthoud ... - BerthoudSurveyor.com - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 8 ways to improve your written communications - Smartbrief - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Draymond Green: Draymond wont be moved by the Draymond rule - Eurohoops - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Dont Make These 4 Nursing Home Abuse Claim Mistakes in Las ... - Legal Reader - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- What Food to Pack for Family Hikes - Outside - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Lawyer Discernment Is Critical In The World Of AI - JD Supra - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 12 blockbuster movies for summer 2023 ranked: we can't wait! - What To Watch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Meghan broke 'golden rule' months before royal exit and has done so ever since - Express - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- We Are All Connected: Loving One Another in Different Religions - Graphic - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Grammar Girl AP style tips on the Oxford comma, headlines and more - PR Daily - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- How to prevent HVAC havoc this summer - KCAU 9 - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Take the right care of your yard | News | hometownnewsbrevard.com - Hometown News - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Britain's Got Talent: Simon Cowell speaks out after new judge Bruno Tonioli breaks rule on first appearance - LADbible - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- After experimenting with directives, ISSF reinstates the Tokyo Olympics old-golden rule book for Paris 2024 - Free Press Journal - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Want to stay married? Gogglebox's Steph and Dom reveal golden ... - Daily Mail - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Overcoming Spiritual Violence and Embracing Peace with Rev. Dr ... - Bear World Magazine - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Good News, Part 3 of Resurrection as the Good News | Good News ... - Patheos - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- What to Do After an Auto Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide - BBN Times - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]