Snapshots
Biblical Truth
OF
The Golden Rule
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Matthew 7:1, 2 (NIV) “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:12 (NIV) “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law of the prophets.” – The Golden Rule
Romans 12:3 (NIV) “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Philippians 2:3 (NIV) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.”
APPLICATION:
From my youth I have been taught to obey the Golden Rule – “Treat others as you want them to treat you” (paraphrased). There is no doubt in my mind that this rule has kept me out of a whole lot of trouble over the years.
Living by the Golden Rule makes a lot of sense. Just think how our world would look if everyone on the planet would follow this simple rule; we would have no need for the military or the police. We would have no need for prisons and jails. Just think of the money that could be saved each year just in these areas alone.
Of course, living by the Golden Rule is not at all that easy. It requires a change of heart, it requires a change of attitude, it requires a change in the way we think and act. Only God is able to change the hearts and minds of people.
Our modern society seems to have adopted the “me-first” rule - “Do it to others before they do it to you”. In sports the attitude is to win at any cost. In school it is getting that top grade even if you have to cheat. At work, it is climbing to the top no matter how many people you have to step on in the process.
For us Christians, Jesus Christ is our model for love, grace and servant hood. If we are to model our lives after our Lord, we must put aside our ego, our self adulation; our aggressive “me-first” attitude and put on compassion and a real concern and love for others. “What’s in it for me?” you may ask – Nothing! It is all about doing it for God.
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A PRAYER:
“God, give me a servant heart, just like the one your Son has. Help me to become less in my own eyes, preferring others over myself, just like your Golden Rule says.”
SNAPSHOT:
Living by the Golden Rule does not come naturally. We all come into this world on a selfish binge with a “me-first” attitude. If not checked, this attitude continues right on into our adult lives.
