Do for someone what you would want someone to do for you
Amber Rice Miller
March 31, 2014
430
Summary: Have you ever been jealous of someone and thought to yourself, I wish that would happen to me. Amber shares a key truth of what we are to do when we have that thought.
The other day one of my friends told about how someone had anonymously left a bag of groceries on her doorstep, which she was ever so grateful for. It was a huge blessing to her and I was excited for her. One of her friends commented, Boy, I wish someone would do that for me.
How selfish, I thought to myself. Why dont you try doing that for someone else? Why dont you sow a seed of your own and maybe by planting a seed you will reap back what you have sown?
A few days later, I read a blog a different friend wrote. She mentioned how one of her friends planned this all day surprise for my friends birthday. Her friend went out of her way to make my friend feel special and loved, paying attention to little details that she knew my friend would enjoy.
I was happy for her, but have to admit that a selfish, jealous, self pitying side of me also came out, one that I am not proud of. After reading that, I said to myself, I wish someone would do something nice like that for me for me on my birthday.
Yes, I know, it was like the pot calling the kettle black. Hypocrite with a capital H. I am not proud of my response, but I am being totally honest.
After I said that, I really felt God impress upon my heart, Whatever you would like someone to do for you, you do it for someone else. That hit so deep into my being. It wasnt God condemning me, but rather encouraging me to be a blessing for someone. God spoke the golden rule right into my life. Luke 6:31 says, And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
I think a lot of the time we use that verse in a negative sense; like if you dont want someone to say something mean to you, dont say something mean to them. But how about we use it from a positive point of view? Think of something nice that you would want someone to do for you, and you do it for someone else.
After I got over my selfish spell and received Gods word, it made me excited. I knew of someone who had a birthday coming up the next day and I wanted to be able to be a blessing to that person. And it made me feel good to be able to do something nice for her. It pulled me out of that self pitying attitude by focusing on someone else, and not myself. And by blessing her, it blessed me. I think it blessed God as well, because He loves to see His children blessed. Matthew 25:40 says, And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
I encourage you to sow seeds of love into someone elses life. Think of what would bless you and do that for someone else. I have already determined in my heart that when my boys are older I want to find some mother with young children at home and offer to babysit once in a while to give her a break. Why? Because I know what it would mean to me if someone did that for me. (Which, by the way, my mom just did for me the afternoon I am writing this. Thanks Mom! What a blessing it was for me to get a break!)
Im not saying to do things with the wrong motives or to fall into self righteousness, thinking if we do good then God has to bless us because we are just so good. God blesses us because of His amazing grace, not because we have earned it. But sowing and reaping is a spiritual law. Just like in farming, the harvest wont come unless the seed has first been planted. Galatians 6:9 says, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Hang in there. Keep planting seeds of love and blessings to others and I believe it will be given back to you. And when that thought comes of I wish someone would do that for me, then take the opportunity to do it for someone else. Jesus did it all for us; if we will receive His love it will motive us to show His love to others.
(Questions or comments? Amber can be reached at amberdeemiller32@gmail.com)
