The Essence

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 NLT

According to Oxford Languages, essence is defined as "the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something". The very thing that makes something what it is. So what is it that we're supposed to be doing to others?

Loving each other. 

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Helping each other. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

...be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

So encourage each other and build each other up...

This obviously is not a complete reference for doing unto others. However, I would encourage you to pick one and work on it for a week - see how it changes the essence of your life.

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for sending Your Son to fulfill all the law and prophecies of the Old Testament. Thank You for His excellence. Thank You for placing such an incredible example before us and for writing the manual and leaving it with us to guide our way to You. Help us to walk in the Light of You and live the Truth known as the Golden Rule. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Gold In the Rule

Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.
Matthew 7:12 The Message

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is probably much more familiar to you as The Golden Rule. JFK paraphrased it for Americans in his famous quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." And a few decades ago, some smart aleck re-wrote it saying, "Do unto others before they do unto you." Unfortunately, it was and is a sign of the times.

So many times, I hear good people whining, "When is it my turn?" "Who is gonna take care of me?" If we stop navel-gazing, demanding that our needs be met, and look to see what we can do to help someone else, then we stop the vicious cycle of me, me, me! It's amazing how it works.

We've talked lots about paying it forward and random acts of kindness. Will some people take advantage of your generosity? Yes, unequivocally yes. They will, but they are not why we do it. We do it because it's the right thing to do - imitating our Father who pours rain on the just and the unjust. While there may be a handful who are greedy with it, there will be so many more who will appreciate what you've done, so you're planting good seed. And the truth of the matter is that they're not taking advantage if you're offering it up anyway.

It's a rule-of-thumb guide for all our behavior. What would you like to reap in your life? You don't plant cotton and expect to harvest corn, do you? Are you planting the seeds that will produce the harvest you desire? There's the real Gold IN the Rule.

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for the gifts You put in our lives. May we always remember how much You love us and then act accordingly. Help us to live each day by Your every Word, imitating You in both Word and deed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen