The Golden Rule

I grew up in church. I am quite confident that I had been taught the Golden Rule or at least had heard of it, but it wasn’t until the 5th grade that it started taking shape in my life. My teacher, Mrs. Dimmick, loved people, but more than that she loved Jesus. She knew the importance of memorization. Every morning of my entire 5th grade “career”, we recited 3 things: the Pledge of Allegiance, a poem called “Try, Try Again”, and the Golden Rule. I can still remember standing up each morning and saying these things with my classmates. It united us as a class and it became ingrained in my heart and memory. 
If you know Mrs. Dimmick, then you know that she didn’t just teach these “words of wisdom”, but she lived them. She taught us what it looked like to take pride in our country, to get back up after falling and try again, but more than that, she taught us what it looked like to live like Jesus: treating others with kindness and standing up for those who can’t. She taught us to put others before ourselves and to reach out to help people. She showed us how important it is to slow down and take time for those around us. So, the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” goes beyond just being kind, although it definitely envelopes kindness.

Spurgeon said, “Oh, that all men acted on it, and there would be no slavery, no war, no swearing, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love? What a kingdom is this which has such a law!” When we look into the depths of Matthew 7:12, we see that there is never a “completion” of this command. It is more than just an item on our to do list, it is a way of life. Always looking for a way to go the extra mile; consistently looking for opportunities to serve and love others. While this might make the law easier to understand, it certainly doesn’t make it easier to obey.

No one but Jesus has ever fully lived out “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one's friends” and that is true, but I believe laying down one’s life is more than just physically dying. It’s the daily task of laying down our own selfish pride and desires. Yes, Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice of His life for me and for you. But daily, Jesus laid down his life for the Father. He chose the desires of God, rather than the things of this world. He gave up sleep to spend time in prayer. He gave up wealth and status to spend time in ministry and eat with sinners. How much more should we be willing to seek the Father and lay down our lives for Him and those He has placed into our lives. The Bible gives many examples of how to live out the Golden Rule. Here are a few:
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
“Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:39
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:8-10‬ 
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke‬ ‭6:27-31‬
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:11‬ ‭
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭

In which ways could you begin to live out the Golden Rule in your own life?