Written by Eunice Tan
We all know the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
I experienced a situation that made me really reflect on this command. I was facing significant challenges at work and had to make decisions that carried serious consequences in my career. And while the consequences were heavy, they pushed me to reflect, learn and move forward.
A senior colleague who was fully aware of everything as it happened, later approached me. Instead of offering support or guidance, he gave me a long list of reasons why my decision was wrong and told me about all the other options that I should have taken. One thing he said stuck with me: “You should have came to me for advice before making your decision”.
In that moment, an immediate thought popped in my mind:
If you knew what I was going through, why didn’t you reach out to help me then? Why wait until everything was over just to criticise?
That encounter became a moment of reflection for me. Many cultures and religions teach a version of “don’t do what you don’t want others to do to you.” But Jesus pushes it further. His command is to “DO”, it is active, not passive.
I told myself that I never want to be the kind of person who only steps in to judge, someone who passively watches others struggle, but actively criticises without offering help. Instead, I want to be someone who notices, steps forward and offers help when it actually matters.
This experience reminded me of why I should be mindful of those around me who may be silently facing struggles in their lives. I want to be someone who takes the time to care, to check in, and to offer support in practical ways because that is what I would have needed in my own moment of struggle.
But let’s be honest, practising the Golden Rule is easier said than done. It requires emotional awareness, sacrifice, and the willingness to step out of our comfort zones. I have found it helpful to begin with small acts of kindness to show that I care, and sometimes it is these small acts of kindness that matter most. And more importantly, this is what we are called to do as Christians.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:4,
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
And in James 2:16, we are warned that offering words without action is empty:
“…and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”
In my own small ways, I have tried to be more attentive to the feelings of others and to add a personal touch when showing kindness, like boiling herbal drinks for colleagues who are unwell, writing personalised cards to thank those who have helped me, or telling someone that I am praying for them when they are going through difficult situations.
These gestures may seem simple, but they are my small steps to live out what Jesus commands: to do to others what I would want others to do for me. Every small act of kindness, every moment of empathy and every intentional choice to love brings us one step closer to the life that God calls us to live.
What is one simple act of kindness that you can extend to someone today?