Whether or not you believe in Jesus, or whether or not you decide to follow his teaching, I’m certain that everyone can agree that there are principles in the words he said that everyone can agree on. You don’t need to be a Christian or a religious person to understand that right is right and agree with some of the things that Jesus said. Here are 10 life lessons we can all learn from Jesus and the things he said in the Bible.
1. Give
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” – Acts 20:30
In the modern world we live in, it’s become more common for people to take. We’re taught to take everything we want, no matter the consequences. Jesus taught that it was better to give than to receive. That means you’ll find that you’ll feel better in your heart giving someone a gift (whether that’s a birthday gift or food to the poor) than it is to actually receiving those items. That’s universally true.
2. Treat Others How You Want To Be Treated
“…do to others what you would have them do to you…” – Matthew 7:12
It might sound like a simple teaching, but it’s a hard instruction to follow. Nobody wants to be mistreated or hurt. The saying “hurt people hurt people” is so true. Jesus teaches us to treat everyone around us the same way we want to be treated. Love how you want to be loved. Be kind to others in the same way you want others to be kind to you. Jesus understood that change starts with you.
3. Forgive
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14
It’s become common knowledge that forgiveness is not for the other person to be free. It’s for you. Forgiving someone releases that person, but it also releases you from hurt and pain. We’ve seen plenty of examples of people who have learned to forgive others. Just look at someone like Nelson Mandela and how he forgave those who put him in prison for all those years. Forgiveness is powerful.
4. Don’t Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” – Matthew 6:25
Jesus once asked the question about what we gain from worrying. He followed up that statement and asked who is able to change their outcome or knows what tomorrow will bring. There’s a stat that says 90% of what people worry about never happens. So why worry?
5. Be Still And Find Peace
“Very early in the morning… Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” – Mark 1:35
Jesus often stepped away from the crowd and the noise and sought peace in solitude, away from everyone and everything. In our busy world today, we could all use a break from the chaos, from social media, from the noise and even from the things we do. If Jesus needed a break, we could do with a break too.
6. Don’t Judge Others
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3
Who is perfect? Who hasn’t been in a dark place? Who hasn’t been down and out? Why then do we look at others and quickly judge them while they’re figuring out their lives? Life isn’t easy. Having someone stand in judgment of you and your actions doesn’t make it easier. Jesus said don’t judge because he knew that behind every person’s actions is a story and a person who is struggling.
7. Serve Others
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” – Mark 10:43
This is one of Jesus’ hardest teachings. It’s easier to want to rule, lead and lord over everyone. It’s not so easy to humble yourself to serve others. But this is what real leadership looks like. A good leader will sweep the floors, clean up after others and serve his followers.
8. Money Isn’t Everything
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15
Some of the richest people in the world have warned us against this. They’ve gathered up so much wealth and things that they can’t buy anything that makes them feel joy anymore. Once you reach that point, you quickly realise that money isn’t everything. How many rich people are unhappy? How many rich people still have loads of problems? Money isn’t the solution to every problem.
9. Love Everyone (Including Your Enemies)
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
Jesus said it’s easy to love those who love you, but he instructs us to love those who hate us, too. That’s a difficult thing to pursue, especially while people are persecuting you. But it’s not impossible. All you have to do is look at your enemies and see that they are just broken people who don’t know how to love.
10. Nobody Is Perfect
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7
As great as you might be or think you are, you’re not perfect. I think we can all accept that we aren’t perfect beings. And by accepting that we have to cut others the same slack. You don’t need to follow Jesus to accept that truth.
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