How to Do Unto Others

Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).  This is perhaps the most widely known of Jesus’ teachings, and most people would agree it is foundational to a healthy moral code.  “The Golden Rule” is a good framework and makes logical sense.  Of course, we should treat others the way we want to be treated.  Yet sometimes we fail to execute this simple principle.  We lie, cheat, steal, hurt, judge, accuse and ignore the others around us when we would never want to be treated this way ourselves.  How can this be?!

I believe a key to this instruction lies in the verses that precede it.  Take a moment to read the entire paragraph:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:7-12 NIV)

When I read these verses recently, the word “so” at the beginning of verse 12 popped out to me.  “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you …”  This links “The Golden Rule” to the verses that come before.  These verses tell us that we can ask, seek, and knock, and our Heavenly Father, who knows how to give good gifts to His children, will answer and provide all that we need.  Then verse 12 follows.  Because of these truths, we should treat others in a worthy manner.  Indeed, we are able to treat others well because we have faith and confidence that our own needs are taken care of. 

What I realized was that the times I fail to live out the “do unto others” teaching, I am motivated by a sense of lack.  When we become disconnected from our Heavenly Father and His willingness and ability to supply our needs, we are less able to care for other people as we should.  This is when we find ourselves in that place where we lack the peace, security or confidence that are ours in Jesus and where we take it upon ourselves to look out for “Number One!”  In this place, “The Golden Rule” becomes an inconvenience, and God help anyone who gets in our way!

This is the way of the world and is why Jesus’ teaching is so revolutionary.  In this passage, He is redirecting us to take hold of God’s promise to look after us.  He is inviting us to ask, to seek, and to knock.  He instructs us to look beyond what we can see in the natural – our own ability and what the world can offer – to find that God is our source for all we need.  The Apostle Peter says it well, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

When we rest in this truth, we come into agreement with the reality of heaven vs. earth.  We learn to lean upon our Heavenly Father, and we are freed from the pressure of supplying our own needs.  Our motivations change when we are no longer worried about or unduly focused upon our own safety or security.  Then we can reach out to those around us with the love, grace, patience, and generosity that is ours through Christ.  Another classic quote from Jesus sums this up perfectly:  “Freely you have received, now freely give.” (Matthew 5:8)  May we all “do unto” those around us because God Himself has done so much for us!

A Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for Your kindness and love in my life!  All I have needed, Your Hand has provided because of Your faithfulness.  Please help me to see and care for those You have placed around me, sharing with them the kindness and love I have received from You.  

In Your Name, Jesus, Amen.

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