The Golden Rule

"Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matt 7:12 (NKJV)

The Jesus version of The Golden Rule is quite pro-active. According to Jesus, the world would be a much better place if everyone would actively treat the people in their lives in the exact manner that they want to be treated. Let's be honest; we like the people that treat us nicely and not so much the people that don't. As a species, we like to be edified, encouraged, strengthened, complimented, helped, respected, loved, defended...and the people that treat us this way are generally considered our friends. What this means is that everyone has the capacity to make friends and to influence their world by following this one simple tenant.

So, what makes it so difficult to apply this wonderful rule to our lives? At least in part; most of us live reactive lives rather than pro-active lives. We react to negativity with negativity and therefore, multiply the negativity. We are judged, so we lash out in judgment. We are offended, so we act offensively. We are misunderstood, so we stop trying to understand others. By reacting to the negativity of others with more of the same, we can become a fountain of anxiety for others. This is where many parents lose their children; they react to the immaturity of their children with...immaturity?

Too often we justify our actions, because, we feel that we have been mistreated. Let me let you in on a little secret--everyone has been mistreated by others. We live on a planet that is accurately described as being a place where, "Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Everyone has sinned!) So, you have a choice: Treat people poorly, because you have been treated poorly; or, treat people the way you want to be treated.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, all blessing and honor and power belongs to You! I delight in the fact that there is no shadow of turning in You. You are always good, always right, always loving, always merciful, always awesome. Lord, I want the Golden Rule to be evident in my life. Help me to see myself as I really am and to treat others as I want to be treated. Expose the hypocrisy in my heart that I might see those areas in my life that need to be challenged and transformed by Your mighty power!" Amen