Golden Rule: Treat Others as You Would Want to be Treated

Christians are taught that one of God’s greatest commandments is to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” The concept of neighbors here does not just mean our direct neighbor who lives next door or those in our family and circle of friends; it means loving all other human beings as we love ourselves. And the concept of love does not mean we are to love only those that agree with our opinions or who share our same beliefs.

The idea of treating others as you would want to be treated is known as the Golden Rule. This concept of treating others as we would want to be treated is not new and is one that is shared across many cultures and religions. It is however, no different. It calls on people to love others and to treat others as they would want to be treated themselves.

There is so much violence and hatred in the world today that sometimes I wonder if there is such a thing as the Golden Rule anymore. 

Aren’t we all the same? After all, aren’t we are all human? We may not be from the same race or culture, or even have the same religious belief, but don’t we all have the same basic need for food, shelter, and love?

Shouldn’t we be celebrating and appreciating the differences and uniqueness of each individual regardless of their race, religion, cultural practices, and even political affiliation? After all, the differences are what makes us stronger as a nation and as a world. We each have different things to offer to one another and, together, we function better as a whole. 

Everyone prays for peace in the world, but this is only attainable if we each do our part. If we can just learn to love each other and work together instead of hating and working against each other, this world would be a better place. 

We should all be thinking about how we can contribute to making this world a better place. 

So, what can we do? We can start by changing ourselves and the way we think and behave toward others: choosing to act out of love instead of hatred, listening instead of condemning or critiquing, building instead of destroying.

We are all unique. We all have something to share. We all have a part to play in society and in this world. 

Appreciate the uniqueness of every single human being.

Love everyone for who they are.

Treat everyone with kindness. 

If you want to read up more on the Golden Rule, look out for Christianity 103 Maturing in Your Faith – Coming Soon!