The Golden Rule part 3
When you're thinking about others you need to think about OTHERS. That, to me, is the key to the Golden Rule. Taking the premise of "treat others as you want to be treated" in the general sense of "I want people to be kind to me so I'm going to be kind to people" in the "be the change you want to see in the world" sense... and then make it personal. See a need and meet it. That's been my mantra for many years now. Just see a need and meet it. And that, to me, is the most basic idea of the Golden Rule anyway. If YOU have a need, I KNOW you want someone to meet it. I've been there. One of the worst feelings in the world is having a need and it not being met. So make it simple for yourself. Don't do for someone (specifically) what you wish they'd do for you. Don't try to get something from someone by giving something to them. Love is never about getting, because love is giving. It's not "I'll scratch your back so that you scratch mine." It's simply, "Oh, you have an itch you can't reach? Let me get that for you." Like it says in Luke 3:10-11 (NLT), "The crowds asked, "What should we do?" John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." SImple. See a need and meet it. And I love the way he said, "If you have TWO shirts." Because we aren't supposed to need a saw to give someone a hand. You don't have to maim yourself in order to help someone else. Live out of your abundance. You are blessed to be a blessing. If God knows you need two shirts--one for you and one for someone who doesn't have one--He'll give you two. My God will provide all your need... and all your neighbor's need... according to HIS riches in glory. We don't need to kill ourselves in order to lay our lives down for our friends. Just do what you can do. Love is maximum effort, so do what you can do and let that either be enough... or not. It's like the idea of turning the other cheek. To me that simply means don't retaliate. It doesn't mean stand there and let someone slap you over and over and over again. Like... walk away from toxic situations. Set boundaries. Love people from a distance. Sometimes ALL you can do for someone is pray for them. And that's enough. That's a lot. Don't think you have to fix every problem. That's not your job. You're not a Spiritual cop. Or at least you shouldn't be. Look at Romans 13:8 (NLT), "Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law." Which, by the way, is the New Commandment: Love one another as Jesus loves you. It's all about love. Receiving and releasing God's love. Letting God love you and loving Him back by loving people. Where the rubber meets the road is HOW we do that. HOW we love one another. And, as I said, the most simple way to do that is to see a need and meet it. Don't make it hard. Don't make it complicated. If someone needs something, and you can meet that need... do it. Give what you've got. Let what's inside come out. Treat others the way you want to be treated--with respect, and kindness, and love!