Do Unto Others

Matthew 7:12 
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)

This is often turned around both in a good way and in a bad way. Someone treats us poorly and we turn around and retaliate with similar treatment to them. It becomes a "Do unto them what they did to me" attitude.

We see it on the highway all the time. Someone is cut off or is riding too close and the other driver gets around them and does the same thing to them and usually at a higher speed; an accident waiting to happen.

Some folks in church are friendly and others tend to walk right by. They may be the ones who are shaking your hand and looking away and perhaps even talking to someone else. Are we to turn away from the ones who ignore us and only be with the friendly ones? I don't think so.

Then there is the "They gave us a gift or they had us over for dinner, we must do the same back to them" situation. It is that same attitude, but in the positive. Who made up that rule anyway?

My mother always said "Love is reflected in love" and she was right on. We are to do unto others as we would hope they would do to us. That does not mean we are expecting them to do it to us or expect to give to get something in return. It means we are to Love everyone and not to treat them in any way we would not want to be treated.

dick