LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 7:12, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, you do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Jesus

 

Most of us know this verse as the Golden Rule and learned about it in Sunday School.  Jesus is still dealing with judgment.  He tells us that when we are dealing with issues with other people this is the rule to follow.  You are to treat them as you want to be treated.  So, how do you want to be treated?  What causes you to be encouraged or discouraged?  Know about yourself and how you want others to treat you; then be careful to treat them in the same way.

 

I remember working in management teams for a major retailer.  We did our best to make the store look clean, the merchandise presentable, and the end caps and action alleys have the new products out to be seen.  It was always important to have the price of the merchandise easily seen.  I was always amazed at upper management (District Managers and Regional Vice-Presidents) when they came in to walk the store with us.  To make the example short I was never impressed with their comments that belittled us to show how important they were.  I always thought they could just tell us to change something and treat us like people.

 

Back to the theology of the verse.  It has often been praised as a wonderful thought that just does not get carried out.  The theology of the Golden Rule begins with the sinfulness of man.  Man, simply does not want to follow the Golden Rule.  Sadly, non-Christian people (Do I dare say many Christians could be included in this statement.) only think about themselves and do not really want to transfer thoughts of themselves to others.  Why?  The answer has to be found in the self-centeredness of people which cause resentment about what is said or thought about them.  The result is to try to protect themselves by doing just the opposite of the Golden Rule.

 

How does a person follow what Jesus said in this verse?  Perhaps the answer is found in Luke 24:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  Relationships between you and others will only be right when God is loved first.  Reread the verse to see how to love God!  When one sees God in His holiness and purity, he can only bow before Him in humility, giving Him praise and honor.  This, in turn, helps him see others as they should be seen, as sinners just like him. 

 

Examine the verses before this regarding the loaf of bread and the fish.  Now they can make more sense because God does not give those who run to Him what they deserve; that is God’s GRACE in action.  He gives us good things in spite of what we have done because He is a good and loving Father.  Because of this He desires His children to deal with others in the same way.  By implementing the Golden Rule, a Child of God looks at others the way God has looked at them.

 

You and I are called to treat people in the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets!”

 

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