How many times have you heard the phrase, treat others as you would like to be treated? It is taught in schools, part of guidelines at clubs, workplaces and even acknowledged in meetings. This command from Luke 6:31 is not only expected in a Christian environment, it is a expectation of worldly living. It is often heard alongside turn the other cheek.
We are taught not to hit back, not to retaliate. You are taught not to steal because that is wrong and hurts someone else, you don’t take without asking because it is rude, if a hungry person begs you for money you give so you don’t feel guilty, you wouldn’t break the law because you don’t want to go to prison on pay fines, if you are walking through a door you hold it open for the person behind you, why? Because you don’t want to be seen a disrespectful.
All the above statements are about avoiding something, you don’t want to be seen and rude or disrespectful, you don’t want to hurt others and you for sure don’t want to get arrested. All of the above actions have consequences that you are responding to and so you treat others how you would like to be treated so that you avoid those consequences. You turn the other cheek as a response to being hit, you are nice to someone who has hurt you after they have acted to make a point, yes as a response to their actions.
But is what God is asking us to do is this statement all about responding or making a point? Luke 6:31 in the message version says, “Ask yourself what you want people to do and then do it for them”
This isn’t about turning the cheek in a situation or avoiding those consequences. Instead it’s about spontaneous unprompted Acts of Kindness. Let me give you an example, it’s a cold day and someone walks into the common room/staff room drenched and upset because they just got dumped, now you are likely to stop and make them and drink and give them a hug or a manly pat on the back- you respond to that situation, that’s normal and I’m certainly not saying that it’s not right. But how often do you just make a cup of tea for the person who is having a joyfully happy morning and walks into the room right after you. How often do you make dinner for your housemate, not because they need it but just because?
If I think about what I would like someone to do for me, I would love to open my bedroom door one day and find a bar or chocolate just sitting there, but would I ever think to randomly leave a bar of chocolate outside someone else’s door? Truthfully, until now, no. But God isn’t just asking us to respond to people in a loving way he’s asking to do that Act of Kindness just because. And if you feel like in doing those actions you would be a big flashing sign saying “hey be nice to me back”, do something you can’t be paid back for- pay for the car behind you at the toll or leave a bottle of nail varnish in the restroom. Why? Well wouldn’t you like someone to do that for you?
Acts of Kindness are about taking action and last time I checked God didn’t ask us to just sit back and respond to the world, he called us to make a statement, be an example and take action!!
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