“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)
What a simple idea! I’m sure the religious leaders resisted this statement. Their power and authority came from being masters of the specifics: “How much am I required to give? How often am I required to forgive? How exactly must I wash my hands?”
Jesus moved past all the specifics to get to the point of the Law. In another passage, he said the greatest commands were to love God (with everything) and love all of our neighbors as ourselves. Here it’s even easier: Do what you’d like done to you.
How would you like someone to respond when you’re being a jerk? What would you like someone to say when you’ve make a mistake? How would you like someone to notice when you’ve made an effort to look good? How would you want your friend to treat you when she’s had a terrible day?
Jesus’ golden rule is genius. Don’t focus on the rules. Focus on being the person you’d like to have for a friend.
Think: Think back over the last week: Were there a couple of times when you did not “do to others what you would have had them do to you?” How could you handle that differently next time?
Pray: Ask God to help you to do to others what you would have them do to you.
Do: Ask a good friend, spouse or sibling how he or she would have liked to have been treated during your last fight.