Two-minute read.
Selfishness comes with the human condition, something we all must battle. As an ex-unfriendly person, during that period of my life, I thought only of myself. Assuming everyone had ulterior motives, I trusted no one and did my best to isolate myself from people. Responding like that to the world led me to bitterness and loneliness, as I failed to heed the common-sense advice my mom tried to teach me.
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
Common sense starts with the golden rule. If you want others to treat you well, treat them well. Whatever you give, you receive in return. Christ gave us what we didn’t deserve: salvation through His death on the cross. He also added to the golden rule, taking it a step further.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”
John 13:34
Unfriendly people often miss the point when they fail to consider common sense. A new phrase I picked up from Lisa Terkheurst’s therapist, Jim Cress, sums it up nicely:
“Say what you mean. Mean what you say. Don’t say it mean.”
Jesus never said a mean word, even while hanging on the cross. He loved everyone, giving them space to make their own decisions and live life the way they wanted. Unfriendly people miss out on the Savior’s teachings and the common sense He taught. Not until I turned back to Jesus did I learn the lesson I so badly needed to learn.
Journal Question:
When did you react in an unfriendly manner to someone?
How did someone’s unfriendliness toward you affect you?
In what ways do you discover common sense in the Bible?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for teaching us common sense and a new way to live. Please help others as Jesus loved us. Give us the tools we need to become more like the Savior.
IJNIP. Amen
