Treating others the way you want to be treated should really be common sense. Think about it. If you don’t want others to cheat or lie to you, don’t cheat or lie to others. This isn’t some new principle. In fact, it is something many of us heard as children growing up. It’s a basic tenet, an ethical duty we should all uphold as self-evident, but it’s sorely lacking in today’s society. Treating others how we want to be treated should be paramount to how we live our lives. Commonly known as “The Golden Rule”, it reveals not only how others should treat us, but how we should treat them. I believe it’s a biblical prescription for living, as we know we wrestle not with flesh and blood. Imagine how different this world would be if everyone lived and dealt with others in a like manner.
More Concerned with Getting Over
However, we live in a society where people are more concerned with getting over. Some people often view others as a stepping-stone, a means to an end, or something to be discarded. This is more clear when it is something they want to attain or achieve on their way to the top. Getting to the top for them is more important than how they get to the top. Whether that means lying, cheating, stealing, killing, coveting, selling their souls, scheming, or resorting to witchcraft/sorcery to gain an advantage. It’s no wonder the world is more wicked than ever before.
“And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31)
“Therefore, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets”. (Matthew 7:12)
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these”. (Mark 12:30-31)
Treating Others with Respect Shouldn’t Be Optional
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)
If everyone would live the way God desires us to, the world would be in order, not chaos. Imagine living in a world where people were considerate of one another. Treating others respectfully was a way of life, not an option. It’s quite simple, really. How would you like others to be towards you? Would you want others to use, abuse or misuse you, or maybe cheat or lie to you? Sadly, though basic as it sounds, people often set aside this tenet and make life all about them. They take but rarely do they give and speak harshly of others but seek praise for themselves. Cheating others is a game, but they render evil to those who cheat or wrong them. These people inflict hurt, but disowning others when they are hurt is the norm. How hypocritical and entitled to think that they wouldn’t experience what they sow.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting and let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:7-9)
“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” (Job 4:8)
What Goes Around Comes Around
What goes around comes around. People that sow evil overlook or ignore that fact. Maybe they believe they are exempt from that law until reality smacks them in the face. God is not mocked! You can’t render evil to others and expect that you or your family will not experience evil. Wreaking havoc in people’s lives will not give you what Philippians 4:7 describes as “the peace that surpasses all understanding”. God provided us with the blueprint for daily living, so you need only apply it to reap the benefits. When we operate outside of God’s Word, we operate outside of His Will, opening ourselves up to a world of hurt. People do not consider that their actions today may affect not only themselves, but their children, or their children’s children. It’s called a “generational curse” for a reason.
“The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.” (Proverbs 11:18)
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)