The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 MSG
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: ASK YOURSELF
WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DO FOR YOU, THEN GRAB THE
INITIATIVE AND DO IT FOR THEM. Add up God’s Law and Prophets
and this is what you get.”
5 Ways You Want People to Treat You:

1. You want others to HAVE MERCY on you.
   Luke 6:38 NKJ
   “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
   shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For
   with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to
   you.”
   Luke 6:36-37 NKJ
   “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not,
   and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be
   condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
   Matthew 5:7 NLT
   “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
2. You want others to have COMPASSION for you.
   Matthew 9:36 NKJ
   But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for
   them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no
   shepherd.
   Compassion: with suffering
3. You want others to UNDERSTAND you.
   “Love seeks to understand rather than be understood.”
   Matthew 12:25 NKJ
   But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom
   divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house
   divided against itself will not stand.”
4. You want others to FORGIVE you.
   Hebrews 12:15 NKJ
   …looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any
   root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many
   become defiled…
   Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
   “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will
   forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not
   forgive your sins.”
5. You want others to HELP you.
   Proverbs 3:27-28 NLT
   Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your
   power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
   “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
   Acts 2:44-47 NCV
   All the believers were together and shared everything. They would
   sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money
   and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in
   the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to
   share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and WERE
   LIKED BY ALL THE PEOPLE. Every day the Lord added those who
   were being saved to the group of believers.