So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
“Everything?” I ask in disbelief. “Everything,” Jesus nods.
Well, that puts feet to His command elsewhere: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Of course, we can question, “Who is my neighbor?” (friend or enemy, it's all the same to Jesus), and “What does love really mean?”
But here it is a straightforward word: “Do what you would have them do to you.”
“But I don't know what they would want... “
That's not what Jesus is saying here.
Not, read their minds and decide what they want, but think about what you would want.
If you do what you would want, and they don't respond well, you're just being a child of God who sends His rain and his sun on the grateful and the grumpy;
and if they do receive your words or actions, you may just have changed a moment for them a ripple of which may touch countless others.
I don’t have to look far for a story. Picture this scenario:
I am on retreat at the beach. My phone vibrates. It is my daughter whom I know is at work and wouldn’t call if it wasn’t an emergency.
Daughter: Where’s Dad. He isn’t answering his phone. He hasn’t been to let the dogs out. Me: I don’t know where he is. Daughter: Can you call him. Maybe he will answer you.
So, I call. No answer. I text. No response. I call again. And again. No answer.
I am walking along the beach when my phone vibrates. Me: Where are you? Why aren’t you answering your phone? You’ve forgotten the dogs. Husband (very patiently). I haven’t forgotten the dogs. I’ve been at R’s where things have gone wrong. My phone is in the truck…
Pause. (I recently read a book about pausing before responding; I need to reread it!)
How would I have wanted to be greeted if I were in my husband’s shoes? Firstly, I am always in trouble for not answering my phone—it takes me a while to find it sometimes.
Secondly, I hate it when he doesn’t remember where I am during the day.
So, in a few moments, I have forgotten Jesus’ command. I can only ask for forgiveness. I can only come to God again, in my poverty of spirit: “LORD, I need Your help.”
And then, respond gently to my husband, as he shares about the difficulties of the day.
“Do unto others…” How easily we slip into accusation.
In Practice the Pause, Caroline Oakes encourages her readers to practice pausing and checking in with God before responding to someone. I wonder if a pause to ask oneself, what would I want someone to do to me in this moment, would change a lot of our interactions and bring blessing into our relationships.
Keeping their best interests in the forefront of our minds would change so many things.
Remember that our love for God is demonstrated by our love for our neighbor.
“Blessed are the meek…” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
LORD, help us recognize our hunger to live in right relationship with everyone and to know that you are always present with us as we cry to you to help us know what is right to do.
At some level, this seems really basic.
Yet, Jesus says it sums up the Law and the Prophets, of which He has earlier said, "...not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of the pen, will by any means disappear from the Law..."
Do you find it astounding that we, by doing to others what we would want done to us, can fulfill the Law and the Prophets?
I do.
What I desire touches what another desires. And that touches what God desires.
And that becomes our response to our prayer, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
So simple!!! So profound!!!
You are made in His image, this generous God of ours.
Every moment of your life offers the possibility of reflecting His glory.
That might not seem much to you; to Him it is everything.
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