"The Golden Rule"...it's not just for kids...

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12

Sadly, “The Golden Rule” is far too often reduced to a quaint and simple saying that just happens to be particularly well suited to convincing children that they shouldn’t be mean to others, because they don’t like it when others are mean to them.

However, it is clear, from even a cursory reading, that Jesus did not state this command in order to identify a negative behavior to be avoided, and He certainly did not imply that it should be limited to children.  Quite the contrary, Jesus commanded a positive behavior to be carefully considered and diligently observed by all who would claim Him as their King.

The positive behavior this command requires is nothing short of my total personal commitment to a constant, active, positive concern for how I treat others…all others.  A concern that flows out of what I know from a careful consideration of my own experiences of the depth and importance of my own desires for how I want others to treat me in the vast variety of relational interactions we encounter.  For example:

• Knowing that I want to be heard…requires that I must intentionally convey to others my willingness to listen to them…and then, actually listen attentively, with a true desire to hear them.

• Knowing that I want others to be patient with me…requires that I must intentionally convey to others my willingness to be patient with them…and then, actually be patient.

• Knowing that I want others to give me the benefit of the doubt…requires that I must intentionally convey to others that I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt…and then, actually do so.

• Knowing that I want others to forgive me…requires that I must intentionally convey to others my willingness to forgive them…and then, actually forgive them.

Anything short of this total commitment, and practice, is a violation of the Law and the Prophets…it is sin…demanding confession, repentance…and an accompanying subsequent change in my behavior.