Thursday, March 13, 2025

Listen to the Word

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)

Jesus’ Golden Rule is different from our usual pattern for behavior. Normally, we do to others what they have done to us. We operate on the payback system. If someone treats you well, of course you would return the favor. But if they treat you poorly, then why go out of your way to care for them? We are nice to the nice ones, but not to the nasty ones. Each time we encounter someone, we do some mental calculations to determine whether that person deserves kindness from us.

Jesus instructs us to put a stop to the calculating. He calls us to go beyond payback. Instead of asking how the other person has treated us, he wants us to ponder how we would want to be treated, and then treat them that way. Instead of giving them the treatment they deserve, we are to give them the treatment that we desire.

Live the Word

Treat the next person you encounter exactly how you would want to be treated.