Good day dear listeners and welcome again to overcoming temptations, My name is Oyisi Okatahi. Today our topic is titled “The Golden Rule”. Our Bible reading is taken from Mathew 7:12- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This is one of the greatest scriptures that summarizes the whole bible. If you don’t know many scriptures on how to live your life then this one summarizes everything. If only we can put ourselves in the shoes of others then the world will be a better place. Many people do not like injustice or pain, but can do it to others but don’t like others to do it to them. Imagine Adolf Hitler, he who was the Chancellor or Head of State of Germany killed 11 million people. 11 million is like the population of Greece or Tunisia or Belgium. So it like killing everyone in these countries, yet when he was about to be captured he committed suicide, he was a coward, he who killed so many was afraid of someone else killing him. So you wonder why people who do so much evil to others cannot endure even a pinch.
I met a lady who was dating married man and she did not see anything wrong with it, and said after all it was the man that was chasing her. I now asked her that does she hope to marry some day and she said yes. So I said how will she feel if her husband was dating other women, she said she will not like it. So I asked her to put herself in the shoes of the wife of the married man, so she can understand that the same way she will not like it, the man’s wife will also not be happy about it. It is only when you put yourself in the shoes of other would you understand.
There are people who tell you that they lost their parents or loved ones and all you say is hard luck. Rather than showing empathy and love you just casually say hard luck, but when you loose your own parents or relative it is like the who world has come to an end. Always put yourself in the shoes of others to feel their pain.
Sometimes we see people begging on the streets and you just conclude that they are thieves or bad people. You forget that these people did not have the opportunity you had in life. Imagine if you never had the chance of going to school and getting education, or your parents were illiterate in some remote village, or imagine if you were blind or deaf and dumb or lame. Many of these beggars are disadvantage in life not by their fault, some are orphans no one has ever shown them love, so giving them some change will not kill you. The point is that you could have been in their shoes if not for the mercy of God. So treat them well.
Many Nigerians say that Nigeria is corrupt and government has failed. However the same things we accuse the government of doing we do worse. A civil servant who earns a salary will inflate contracts and demand a kick back from the contractor, worse of all he does not care if the contractor executes the contract, he is only concerned with his share or kick back. This same person blames government for not providing road, electricity and infrastructure. If only we can put ourselves in the shoes of others, it will make us wiser.
So I encourage you today to always consider others and do unto them as you want them to do unto you. Always put yourself in the shoes of others. Have a day filled with favour in Jesus name. Amen.
