Relating to One Another
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31
One of the greatest challenges in life is learning to love one another in a fallen world. The Lord exhorted us to love even our enemies (see Luke 6:27-36) and to restrain from judging one another (see verses 37-42). It is only the grace of God that enables us to love those who hate us. Consider the dynamics involved when two people are at each other’s throats. Chances are they will be attacking the other person’s character while looking out for their own needs.
There is no way two people can get along if that is what they are doing. Before God, we are responsible for our own character and the needs of those around us. Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” Philippians 2:3-5 tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
What would life be like if we all assumed responsibility for our own character and committed ourselves to loving one another? Surely that is what Scripture requires of us. Conforming to God’s likeness is His plan for our lives, and out of this developing character we meet one another’s needs. So why doesn’t this transforming love seem to be present even in our churches and Christian homes? It will happen in heaven, but in this world we live with imperfect people and none of us has matured to perfection. Perhaps we need to start by taking the plank out of our own eyes before we consider looking at the speck in someone else’s eye (see Luke 6:41-42).
Jesus instructed us how to respond to those who don’t abide by His teaching: “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). In other words, respond to others’ bad attitude with deeds of kindness, speak well of those who speak ill of you, and pray for them when their bad attitude and speech digress to bad behavior. Nobody can keep you from being the person God created you to be, so don’t let immature people determine who you are and how you should respond. When treated poorly by others, do not respond in kind. Instead, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (verse 31).
You get out of life what you put into it. If you want a friend, then be a friend. If you want someone to love you, then love someone. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you” (verses 37-38).
It is one of life’s great compensations to know that you cannot sincerely help another person without helping yourself in the process. Whatever life asks of you, give a little more and it will come overflowing back to you: “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (verse 38).
A few questions to ponder:
What two great responsibilities do we have in terms of ourselves and others?
What is keeping us from loving one another?
How are we to respond to those who don’t speak well of us or mistreat us?
In what ways haven’t you acted responsibly in a past or in a present difficult relationship?
What do you find most difficult in loving the unlovely?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.