Published: May 09, 2008 12:06 pm            

May we learn to treat others as we would our mother, father, sister, brother, child

By Sam Smith

Years a go I attended a seminar featuring a well known motivational speaker. He was speaking on ways to improve our communication skills. On the subject of discovering better ways to treat our patients, he made a statement that I have never forgotten – one that I have tried to apply in my practice ever since. He said that we should treat each patient as if they were our mother, father, sister, brother, child. It was great advice well taken.

As Christians, we can take that principle to a higher level. We should see each other as our spiritual sisters or brothers, for in Christ, we are. Romans 12:10 tells us to “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” The early Christians clearly understood God’s idea of living in brotherly love. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” [Acts 2:44-45].

Remember the communes in the hippy era? The way the early Christians lived sounds a little like the commune idea. Now don’t get all upset. I am not promoting communes. But in that time, the new, Spirit-filled believers felt the need to live that way. Although it does not seem practical for us to sell all our possessions and goods and give to each other as they have needs, it should be our hearts desire to at least feel that way. Honestly, wouldn’t it be a better world if we did more of that?

Consider the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what he must do to receive eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he owned, give it to the poor and follow Him. The young man went away in sorrow. [Matthew 19] He could not grasp the idea of brotherly love. Let’s be honest – we have difficulty grasping it, too, don’t we? Our even if we grasp it, how often do we do it? We know it is Jesus’ desire – even His command – that we love each other as we love ourselves.

John the Baptist, in Luke 3:11, said, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

We all know these truths from God’s Word, we just don’t always practice them. If we would develop the “mother, father, sister, brother, child” attitude, we could begin to be more aware of the way we should feel about each other. When we do, we will begin to treat each other better – the way the Lord wants us to. It is not that we do not want to treat each other that way, we simply fail to look at each other that way. If we make a conscious effort to see one another in a caring, loving way – as we would a loving parent, sibling or child – we would do a much better job of caring and sharing.

So, how about it? How about, beginning today, looking at every person you meet as a mother, father, sister, brother or child? Start with someone you have the most trouble tolerating; someone you consider your enemy. You might be amazed at how your feelings toward them can change. One of the greatest benefits of trying this is that you will be in God’s will. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [Luke 6:27-28] “…Love your enemies…then your reward will be great and you will be son’s of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” [Luke 6:35]

If we can learn to see our enemies with the “mother, father, sister, brother, child” attitude, imagine how much better we can learn to see - and treat - everyone else.



Contact Dr. Sam Smith, Butterfly Ministries, at ssmithkate@aol.com.

        

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