Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. The Bible verse means that you should treat others in the same way you would prefer to be treated.
The words are derived from Matthew 7:12, which says
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Some people term this as the golden rule of life!
We shall now elaborate on the above scripture by answering a few questions.
How do you treat your spouse?
As a husband, do you love your wife? If you want her to love you, it must begin with you. This is because scriptures teach us that husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. It is only when you live according to this scripture that your wife will love and respect you (Ephesians 5:25, 28).
Actually, Colossians 3:19 further advises husbands not to be bitter against their wives at any time. The scripture says
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter towards them.”
On the other hand, wives are commanded to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33). Do you want to see your husband respect you? Then begin by showing him respect. It is only when you respect him that he will respect you in return.
In 1 Peter 3:1, the apostle Peter urges wives to honor and be submissive to their husbands. The scripture says
“Likewise, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.”
Perhaps the best advice on how both the husband and wife can live together harmoniously is found in Galatians 6:2, which says
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
So as husband and wife, learn to accept and live with the weaknesses of your spouse, for no man is perfect!
How do you treat your children?
Parents are urged to treat their children with respect and not to do things that will provoke them to anger (Ephesians 6:4). Unfortunately, many parents handle their children carelessly, which causes the children to rise up against them in protest. You may find a parent instructing his or her child to do something that has no biblical basis. When the child questions the wisdom behind the instruction, they are usually met by threats of curses as a way of beating them into submission. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary confrontations, many children run away from home and completely shut their parents out of their lives.
Ask yourself, if you were a child, would you like to be handled the way you are currently handling your children?
How do you treat your neighbors?
The Bible teaches that you should love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 19:19). We can always tell whether you love your neighbor or not by the way you relate with them. Let us further elaborate on this statement.
There are those of us who steal from their neighbors and feel nothing about it. The Bible teaches that you shall not steal (Exodus 20:15). How do you normally feel when someone steals from you? If the feeling is bad, then never steal somebody else’s item, property, or just anything!
Then there are those who kill fellow human beings. Again, scriptures teach us not to kill because man is created in the image of God (Genesis 9:6). In spite of this express commandment from God, men are still killing each other for money, positions, power, and love, among many other flimsy and useless reasons. The question is, does your quest for money, position, power, etcetera, warrant you to snuff the life out of a fellow human being? How would you feel if someone were to kill your wife or your child or your brother, or even your sister, simply because they want to get rich, power, or whatever! It is actually insane to even think about it!
Still there are those who go around sleeping with other people’s wives or husbands. Scripture is again very clear that you shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). What would you do if you found out that someone else has been sleeping around with your spouse? Scripture reveals that the jealousy that ensues out of such a discovery can drive someone to actually kill their spouse or their lover (Proverbs 6:34-35). And it has happened so many times. Statistics around the world indicate that many people have killed their spouse and/or their lover because of cheating on them.
Then there are those who love spreading falsehoods against others. This is scripturally wrong. The Bible actually warns us against spreading false reports against others (Exodus 23:1). However, in today’s world, social media has made things worse when it comes to rumor mongering. A false accusation against an otherwise respected person can quickly spread from one end of the world to the other at lightning speed thanks to rogue social media platform users. So, by the time people realize that it is just but a rumor, the damage has already been done. We all know that it is quite difficult to repair a good reputation once damaged by a false allegation. So, you who love spreading rumors about others, how would you feel if the shoe were to be on your foot? What would you do if someone were to spread a rumor about you in order to finish you? I bet you will look for him or her and make them pay with everything that they have!
How do you treat your workers?
Then there are those who have employed people to work for you. How do you treat them? Are you a harsh taskmaster? Do you make them work like donkeys for them to earn that salary? What report would they give to God concerning how you handle them? The Bible urges masters to treat those that serve under them with respect and consideration. In Ephesians 6:9, scripture says
“And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threats, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.”
In addition, how do you remunerate those you have employed? Do you pay them ‘peanuts,’ so to speak? In the Bible, God Himself strictly warns against exploiting your employees. For example, in Leviticus 19:13, scripture states as follows:
“You shall not defraud your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”
A stricter warning for those who exploit their employees or workers is also carried in Jeremiah 22:13. The scripture says
“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor’s service without wages and gives him nothing for his work.”
The same sentiments are echoed in Malachi 3:5; the scripture says
“‘And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear me,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
The question is how would you feel if you worked for someone who is constantly exploiting you? If you would feel bad, then give your employees what they actually deserve!
How do you handle your job at the workplace?
For those who are employed, what report can your supervisor give to God concerning your work? This is because most people tend to be mediocre at their place of work. Instead of doing their best, they are always looking for opportunities to dodge the assignments and duties assigned to them. They will even feign sickness in order to get some days off duty. What these people don’t know is that God abhors this kind of behavior.
How comfortable would you be to hear that those who you have employed to work for your organization or business are joking around? I bet you would certainly get them fired!
In Ephesians 6:5, God warns those servants who do not give their best at the place of work in this manner:
“Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”
Do you pay your debts after borrowing?
There are also those individuals who borrow and don’t repay their debts. If you are this kind of person, the Bible actually calls you wicked! We read this in Psalm 37:21, which says
“The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.”
How do you normally feel when a person who owes you money refuses to pay it back? I know the feeling is bad because I have also been there! So what is the way out? Learn to repay what you have borrowed the soonest God blesses you with the money. By so doing, you will be reducing the statistics of wicked people roaming around planet earth!
Do you look down upon the disabled?
There are those who look down upon the blind, the lame, the deaf, or the dumb. This is very sad indeed. No one ever wanted to be born handicapped. But given the fallen state of the present world, the handicapped are born among us every other day. So the best we can do for the handicapped people is to help make their lives as comfortable as that of people living without disability.
In Leviticus 18:14, God cautions us against mistreating the handicapped, as this will be met with judgment. The scripture says
“You shall not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.”
I’m saying this because world-over, reports abound on how money or resources meant to help the handicapped get stolen and diverted into individuals pockets. This is very wrong, if not wicked, in the eyes of God.
Suppose you were the one born handicapped; how would you feel if people were to go about taking advantage of your situation? Of course you’d be greatly annoyed. Likewise, that is the same feeling the handicapped person gets whenever they are mistreated or mishandled by the so-called ‘able’ people.
Do you look down upon other races or tribes?
Then there are those who consider themselves to belong to a superior race, skin color, or even tribe. Oh really? Such people will always grab every opportunity to remind others how inferior they are and why they don’t even deserve to be around them. Well, the Bible clearly states that every man is created in the image of God, whether Black, colored, or white! We read this in Genesis 1:27, which says
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
So you who think that yours is the superior race, tell me—is God white, yellow, Black, or red-skinned? Please stop your prejudice and repent of your mistreatment of others on the basis of their skin color! Skin color! And you who think of skin color and think that yours is the superior tribe, tell me the tribe to which God belongs! If not, it’s time you also repented and stopped your mistreatment of others based on their tribe!
Just imagine how you’d feel if you were the one being harassed because of belonging to a so-called inferior race or tribe or skin color. Wouldn’t it devastate you? I guess it would. So please, learn to treat people well, regardless of race, tribe, or the color of their skin.
I hope this is helpful. God bless you.
‘Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.’ (Revelation 1:4-6)
Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/
Prayer to get born again
Are you willing to become a born-again Christian? Make the following prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness.
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.
I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.
I believe that you died and were resurrected in order for me to receive eternal life.
I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.
Come into my heart and baptize me with the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for saving me.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen!”
Congratulations, friend! You are now a born-again Christian!
Welcome to the family of God!
Also Read: What does the Bible say we shouldn’t do
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