Do Unto Others

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. – Matthew 7:9-12

This is one of my favorite portions of Scripture.  Jesus show the reality of our goodness as compared to God’s, but by doing so indicates how much greater is God’s love for us than we can love even our own children.  He also indicates how much more than our desire to give to our own children does God want to give to us.  This has always been so encouraging to me because my logical brain understands the scale of it and I can relate so directly to the desire to give to my children.

No matter what we have done or said.  No matter how we have felt before.  No matter who has rejected us or accepted us.  No matter how great or small we are in this world.  God loves us as His children and wants to give to us.

The last verse in this portion is incredible.  Jesus says this one verse sums up all the words of the Jewish law and all the words of the Prophets.  That is an incredible summation.  “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”  In essence, love others where they are, no matter where they are.

The world's motto is "Do unto others and run!"  (Coincidentally, this was a magnet on my grandfather Buck's refrigerator.  It was my brother's.  My sister's said "Stop and smell the roses."  Mine said "Whatever your lot is in life, build something on it.")  But that is directly opposed to this summation given by Jesus.

If you want people to be nice to you, be nice to them.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want accountability, be accountable.  If you want to be loved, love.  If you want others to show you Christ, show them Christ.  If you want kindness, be kind.  If you want gentleness, be gentle.  If you want peace, be peaceful.  …  Show to others what you hope people will show to you. … Forgiveness, compassion, joy, peace, love, etc.

Let’s be purposeful today in how we see and treat others, thinking about them before we think of ourselves.  In doing this, we will live out God’s purpose in all the words of the Law and His prophets.