Love One Another vs. You Do You
My wise friend Francie coined a phrase, “Be Like Jesus is better than You Do You”.
Let’s break it down in reverse order. What does the phrase “You Do You” mean? The online Cambridge Dictionary says You Do You is “used to say that someone should do what they think is best, what they enjoy most, or what suits their personality.” Many would say this is the right way to live. Do what you enjoy most. You only have this one life to live so live your best life! You do you! One might say I’m just doing me, or this is my truth. We tend to say these phrases without thinking what they really mean.
Maybe we’ve heard other people say these things and we agreed because it sounded right. We might think it is best to always do what makes us happy and refrain from doing things that are hard or may bring us sadness. But are these sayings really the best mottos to live by? Do they stand up against all that life throws at us?
What about someone who has thoughts of hurting themselves or thoughts of hurting other people? Without knowing their thoughts, should we tell these people to live their lives by the popular mantra “You Do You”? What about the person who lashes out with harsh words when you ask them a simple question? Is it ok for them to speak that way because they’re having a bad day or because they have a strong personality and it’s just who they are?
In Matthew 22:37 – 39, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
When you live out your commitment to God by loving him first with all your being, it is much easier to love and be kind to people even when they are being less than loveable. Just as Jesus did when He loved while we were yet sinners and died for us. This is the “Be Like Jesus” part of the opening phrase.
Strive to be like Jesus. Love Him, learn His word and allow it to mold you into a new creation in His likeness so that when ‘You Do You’, they see Jesus, not you.