The Golden Rule About Treating Others As You Want To Be Treated
In a hectic world like this, people have turned their backs on justice. Greed is never satisfied. May we learn from the Golden rule that says treat others as you want to be treated.
Have you come across the Bible’s message about the golden rule? It’s a common message in our various societies. We cherish those who demonstrate great love and unselfish behaviors.
Do you like the way you treat others? Remember, the same thing would be meted on you. Socrates never wanted to be slandered because he found that act repulsive.
In his effort to be fair in his relationships with people — he used the “Triple Filter Test” for gossip to sieve out gossipers from his life.
He used that to find out what is:
• True
• Good
• Useful
Gossip is one of the commonest practices we do to defame or demoralize our friends. It’s a sin in the sight of God.
Love Is The Answer
Love supersedes everything. Why? Because God is LOVE. The saying: treat others as you want to be treated is classified as a golden rule. The Bible said it:
“In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Once again, we can find the same message in the book of Luke 6:31. This is a powerful message that cuts across all cultures, nations, religions, and beliefs. It seems like God has inscribed it in the heart of all humans.
Why is called Golden Rule?
The Bible calls it the golden rule because it fulfills the law and the prophets which are powered by love. The book of 1 Corinthians 13 taught us the way of love.
Everyone Deserves Better
We are social beings by nature. God has given us the conscience to detest what is morally wrong or anything that impedes justice. By treating others the way you want to be treated is about mercy and justice. Are you fair in your dealings with people?
The Bible has a number of related verses that also remind us of being just, loving, and kind in our relationships with people.
Practically, it might seem challenging in some ways. But love rules out all boundaries. Even if the guy next to you is your enemy —you are commanded to show him some love.
As a simple rule, I find this to have a deep spiritual connection. If you don’t have what we call the “fear of God” you will always break this golden rule.
If you want to be treated fairly —then be fair to everyone. It doesn’t matter if people become ungrateful for your kindness or efforts.
After all, your reward isn’t coming from humans but God who sees through every heart and rewards accordingly.
You would be a big liar if you claim you love God and hates your friend.
Treat Others How You Want To Be Treated
If you know it feels bad, don’t push it on your friends. Your conduct in all respects must glorify God. In the old testament, the Mosaic law dealt with bad human conduct by a rigorous law that controlled those whose hearts are stony.
I’m talking about the eye for an eye retaliation.
“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” (Exodus 21:24 – 25)
This sounds crazy though, but it helped to control the notorious, evil, and rebellious people among them.
You know that lemon would never taste good in your mouth. Why then would you squeeze it into a friend’s mouth? An evil man would love to do evil knowing that treatment never feels good.
So he would be treated the same way he treated his friends. Fair enough right?
It takes the fear of God to put up good conduct that will be a blessing to you and the people around you.
Nobody wants to inflict pain on his body or soul. Because that feels very bad. If that is the case, then let’s pursue love and righteousness. Go in for what is good and worthy.
Treating Others In Our Relationships With The Golden Rule
Whether it’s about the adjudication of civil laws, treatment in dating, marriages, friendships, etc, fairness must be sought. It comes by loving your friend just like yourself.
In the latter part of Matthew 7:12, it says “for this fulfills the law and the prophets.”
There are many ways people maltreat their friends, family members, loved ones, and even strangers.
Think about these: injustice, cheating, genocide, racism, hatred, slander, discrimination, suppression, etc.
These practices result in breaking the golden rule which comes along with consequences and repercussions. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you wouldn’t find any valid excuse to hurt your neighbor in any way.
Unfortunately, we live among people who are wicked and insensitive to human needs. That selfish behavior would incur the wrath of God. Because he is a just God. He loves justice. God avenges the weak, poor, and widow when exploited by evil men.
We must therefore be extremely careful when living a life that creates problems for our fellow humans. Think and think again before you speak or act.
To treat others as you want to be treated, let love prevail.
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10).
Oh yes, you wouldn’t cheat on your spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend if you have love. Neither will you conspire or abuse the people you come into contact with. If you hurt a friend, you have hurt God. You do good to a friend, you have done it to the Lord. The rule is never taken out. It’s universal.
The flesh and the spirit need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. When you allow the Spirit of God to lead you, you wouldn’t give in to moral decay, injustice, or hurt your neighbors.
The Problem With The Privileged And Less Privileged
Let me share something interesting about the golden rule which says treat others the way you would like to be treated.
It simply works like —anytime the ball is in your court, you have the opportunity to use it in your own way.
But first, think about how it would affect those around you. For instance, you are in control of your words. And the Bible has warned us that there is life and death in the tongue. The choice is yours.
Moreover, a lawyer or a judge is privileged to sit on cases. The ball is in his court — would he circumvent justice or be honest in his dealings.
Our world is filled with evil deeds that violate God’s law. The rich exploit the poor, the strong bully the weak, the wise take advantage of the fool, and so forth. Don’t forget that you reap what you sow.
At a certain point in time, we would have the ball in our own courts. Doing what is true, pure, and worthy in the sight of God pleases Him. In return, we will enjoy a lot of blessings.
Some Bible Verses About The Golden Rule
Now, let me take you through a few Bible verses about treating others as you want to be treated. May you be encouraged to pursue what is right and beneficial for you and the people in your life. My favorite is #5.
1. “But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5)
2. “You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.” (Jeremiah 7:5)
3. “Seek good and not evil so you can live! Then the LORD, the God who commands armies, just might be with you, as you claim he is.” (Amos 5:19)
4. “Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!” (Isaiah 1:17)
5. “For you were called to freedom, brothers, and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
In Summation, it feels like life is about the treatment we give others compared to how we would like that to be meted on us. If it doesn’t feel good, worthy in the sight of God —don’t do it!
