Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This is known as the Golden Rule. It is often stated as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In applying the Golden Rule, think of putting yourself in the shoes of the other person. If you were facing the same situation as they face, what would you want someone to do for you? That tells you what you should do for them. 

Jesus taught us that following the Golden Rule is a summation of the Law and the Prophets. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:14 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus also later taught that all the law and the prophets hang on the commandments to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:40). It seems to me that the Golden Rule is basically a statement of how to practically show love to others. Love seeks the good of the person loved.  We all want to be shown love. By treating others like we want to be treated, we are showing them love. Let us look at several areas where we can apply this principle.

Suppose your brother sins against you in some way and then he is sorry for what he has done to you.  Do you forgive him?  The Golden Rule teaches us to forgive others because we want to be forgiven when we sin.  Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” 

Suppose you gave a task to someone and they completed most of the task but not all at the end of the day; do you get angry with them or do you give them mercy? Or suppose someone owed you some money but they didn’t have enough to re-pay you; do you insist that they pay you in full or do your give them mercy? Or perhaps they borrowed something from you and then lost it so they cannot return it to you; do you insist on full restitution or do you give them mercy?  You have many opportunities to give mercy to others.  Do you want others and especially God to give you mercy?  The Golden Rule teaches us to give mercy to others because we want to be given mercy.  Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Luke 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

Suppose you see that your brother has some need in his life.  Perhaps he needs some money to buy something very important.  Perhaps he is hungry.  Or perhaps a storm destroyed his crops or his means of transportation.  Perhaps he has a serious illness and cannot work.  Do you ignore his need and tell yourself that it is his problem and not yours?  Or do you help him.  The Golden Rule teaches us to help another who has needs because we want to be helped when we have a need.  1 John 3:17-18 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Suppose you make an appointment to meet with someone at a specific time but they are late in arriving.  Or perhaps they agree to give you something but they continue to delay giving it to you.  Or perhaps they have a habit or way of doing things that is irritating.  Do you get angry with them, say bad things about them to others, or reject them as your friend?  The Golden Rule teaches us to be patient and longsuffering with them because we want others and God to be patient and longsuffering with us.  Ephesians 4:2-3 “With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Suppose you have a brother who loses a loved one or someone else close to him or has some tragedy in his life; do you ignore him? Or do you go to him and comfort him in his loss or tragedy? On the other hand, perhaps he gets the job he has always wanted or he marries the love of his life or he has a new baby; do you congratulate him and tell him how happy you are for him?  The Golden Rule teaches us to empathize with others because we want others to empathize with us. Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Suppose you see that your brother has a weakness, is in poor health or is going on a long journey or needs guidance in his life.  He needs help from God.  Do you pray for your brother?  The Golden Rule teaches us to pray for our brother because we would want him to pray for us.  James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Suppose your brother expresses his desire about how something should be accomplished, some decision that is to be made. It isn’t wrong what he desires to do. Even though you see it differently, you yield to your brother and do as he desires.  Paul wrote in Philippians 2:2-3 “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”  Are you not following the Golden Rule with such actions?  If you have strong feelings about something, would you not want others to respect your wishes?

There are many other ways that you can apply the Golden Rule in your life as you deal with others.  Some that come to mind are having compassion for them, bearing their burdens, edifying them, listening to them, being kind to them, giving what they request, greeting them warmly, and loving them.  You do these things unto others because you would want them to do these things unto you.

 My encouragement is that you apply the Golden Rule in all areas of your life.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.