The Golden Rule

According to Matthew 7:12, Jesus said unto His disciples "therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." There are probably many people who know very little about the Bible. however, I am sure that almost everyone is familiar with what is taught in the above cited scripture. Yet, in my judgment, there is not another command in the whole of God's word which people trample under their feet more than this one.

Now that this command is grossly abused one has but to look about him and observe some of the things taking place. For example, why do men have written contracts? Why do business places and all homes have locks on the doors? Is it not because we know many people will not abide by this rule?

Why does every city have a police force and judicial system? Because we know there are those who will not comply with this rule unless they are forced.

Why do nations spend multiple millions of dollars every year for defense? It is because history has taught them well that many nations have no respect for this rule.

Oh, yes, there are too many people in the world who are following RULES SUCH AS do unto others as they do unto you or as they are capable of doing unto you or what is mine is mine and what is thine is mine if I can get it.

Yes, people are following many different rules, but how many are following the Lord's Matthew 7:12 golden rule?

It seems strange that we aw people would so strongly rebel against this rule. We must realize what a wonderful world this would be if all of us would just abide by this one little rule. TREAT ALL OTHERS THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU, IF YOU WERE THEY AND THEY WERE YOU.

Try, if you will, to imagine the trillions of dollars spent every year for the purpose to force individuals and nations to follow this rule. Try, because try is all you can do, to really and truly comprehend the height, breadth and depth of all the good which could be done with all this money. Over night, as it were, the world would find itself with better schools, medical facilities, recreation places, fewer incompleted research projects, hungry people, and slum districts.

Yes, if everyone would follow this rule, then this planet would be a much better place to dwell. Yet, we know there never has been or never will be a time when all people will do this, so we might as well stop dreaming. However, let all of us who desire to please God be aware that we must allow this rule to govern our lives because James 2:8-12 teaches that if we are to please God, we must conform to all His will and Matthew 7:12 is one portion of it. Now I ask, are those of us who desire to please God really and truly doing unto others as we would want them to do unto us?

Maybe we could more accurately determine this by asking ourselves a few questions.

1. If I have children, am I training them to be good companions and parents?
2. As a husband, am I treating my wife as I would want to be treated if I were she?
3. As a wife, am I treating my husband as I would want to be treated if I were he?
4. As parents, are we treating our children, in all ways, as we would want to be treated, if we were they?
5. As a child, am I treating my parents as I would want them to treat me, if I were they?
6. As an employer, if I had to switch places with my employees would I be willing for everthing to continue just as it now is?
7. As employees, would we be satisfied with everything remaining just as it is, if we were the employers and our employers were the employees?
8. As teachers and students, if you had to change places would you desire any changes?
9. If you, as the physically or mentally sound, had to change places with those who are not, would you be pleased with things as they are?
10. If you as a member of the majority group were a member of any of othe minority groups, would you be pleased with things as they are?
11. Would we as penitent offenders want others to forgive us?
12. If we were discouraged, would we want to be encouraged?
13. Do we appreciate being commended when we do well?
14. Are we treating all institutions and all other people as we would want them to treat us?
15. If we were God, and God were us, could we as "Him" say unto us as "Him", well done my good and faithful servants?

My friends, if our answer to all these questions is yes, then our relationship with God and man is indeed being governed by the Golden Rule.

May God help all of us in this endeavor.

By Tommy Hodge

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