October 2, 2017 (Monday)
“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
This is called “The Golden Rule.” It is taught in one way or another in all religions and in many secular disciplines.
The term “Golden Rule”, or “Golden law” began to be used widely in the early 17th century in Britain by Anglican theologians and preachers; the earliest known usage is that of Anglicans Charles Gibbon and Thomas Jacks in 1604.
I was made acquainted with it in elementary school. I don’t recall which teacher or which grade but I do know that I was a pupil in Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Houston, Texas when I first heard about it.
It is a sensible rule to live by. Just treat others as you would like to be treated by them. Like so many worthwhile principles, it is just good common sense. It is, nevertheless, despised by many people who think otherwise.
There are some who believe that practicing the Golden Rule results in mistreatment by others. Their rule is, “if people don’t treat you the way you’d like to be treated, then treat them how they treat you.” Quite the opposite of what Jesus taught.
A few restate the rule this way: “Do others before they do you.”
Some have been misled by a godless world to think that the rule should be stated this way: “He who has the gold has the rule.” Actually many believe that, even though they may never say it in those words.
Jesus was asked by a man one day, “”Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40 NIV). We might say, then, that Jesus took the Golden Rule to a higher level, making it a matter of obedience to God.
I suppose you could summarize the Golden Rule with the wording, “Be nice.” May I see the hand of all the parents out there who have never said those two words to their kids.
We will not be far off the mark if we say the world is in a mess. When God created the universe, including all of us, He declared it all ‘Very Good.” While there is good in the world today, maybe it would be a better place if ..