Matthew 7:12 – 14 ESV So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
People tend to complicate things. Pleasing God is quite a simple endeavor. Not an easy one perhaps but knowing what to do and what not to do is very simple. Treat people the way you want to be treated and you will almost certainly be pleasing God.
The Bible tells us to treat people with dignity, respect, love, kindness, and compassion. We should be generous, bear each other’s burdens, and forgive readily. This is how we all want others to treat us. Therefore, if one always thinks about how they would want someone to treat them, and then act accordingly, they will likely be pleasing God.
This is sadly in contrast to how the world views the church. The general perception of the unchurched towards Christians is that we are judgmental, hating, hypocrites. That perception is not always undeserved. Even with good intentions, trying to force one’s morality on another will rarely have a good outcome. Christians do not like it when the world does it to us, so we should not do it to them.
Christians are called to be the light of the world. We are charged with sharing the gospel and making disciples. We must do these activities in a loving, compassionate manner that makes people feel cared for and respected, not attacked. That is how we would want people to treat us.
If we look at how Jesus treated people, He was kind and welcoming. He stated the truth to anyone who wanted to listen but never tried to force anyone to follow His teachings. His only harsh words were for those who were hindering people from coming to God. If Christians followed His example, we would be more effective at reflecting God’s love for the world to see.
This principle is just as true when dealing with brothers and sisters in the church. It is shocking how brutal Christians can be with fellow believers. Most Christians I know have at least one horror story of being abused either by a church or people in the church.
The Bible tells us that love should be a defining feature of Christ’s disciples (John 13:35). Yet division, quarreling, and strife are so common they have become cliché. A truly loving church that nurtures and supports ALL its members is a shining testimony of God’s love. What a shame such churches are all too rare.
As I said before, it really is a simple matter to show love and kindness. All we have to do is treat others just like we want others to treat us.
LORD, You are love! Help me to treat others in a manner that lets them see Your love. I pray that I will never treat anyone in a way that makes You look bad or unappealing.