Self Love

A long time ago I was reading a book, and the author was trying to make a point about how to treat others. He said something along the lines of “you should not treat others as you want to be treated (in essence, implying that Matthew 7:12 -The Golden Rule- was slightly incorrect)” because if for example, you were a masochist, you would not want to inflict pain on others for no just cause. The author, in his wisdom, opined that you should rather treat people the way they want to be treated.

This view made sense to me until I asked myself, “what if the other person is a masochist, and wants me to treat him/her that way? Would that make it right for me to inflict pain on someone just because they want to be treated that way?”. It was a “curb your logic” moment for me.

Of course, there is a standard for our relationships with “neighbors”, with the people around us.

Matthew 7:12 (AMP)
So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets.

Mark 12:31 (NLT)
“…The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Leviticus 19:18 (NLT)
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

Galatians 5:14
“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”