Friday, March 8, 2013

THE RULE 

Matthew 7:12
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
 
   SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, even those who were not raised going to church were probably taught the Golden Rule: “Do unto others.  .  .  .” Jesus was not the first person to express this idea, but he was known for an important restatement of the rule. Others had taught, “Don’t do to others what you would not want done to you.” Jesus’ command included that idea but went far beyond it: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.” He followed the command with an amazing statement: “This is the law and the prophets.”
 
   Jesus’ restatement of the command summarized the ethical requirements of God; that is why we memorize the statement as children. We often leave out the words “In everything,” but I think these are important. In every conversation, every business transaction, every interaction, every decision— in everything, “do to others as you would have them do to you.”
 
   A lifelong Christian, discovering that his car needs two thousand dollars of repairs, trades the car in without telling the dealer about the needed repairs. A women’s Bible study leader regularly belittles her husband. A leader in the church feels it is his “Christian duty” to forward political e-mails without checking their truthfulness. These are only a few examples of Christians I’ve known who did not understand that “others” in the Golden Rule included the car dealer, one’s spouse, and even politicians. Nor did they understand that “in everything” included car trades, marriage, and e-mails.
 
   The Golden Rule is such a clear guideline for walking in the footsteps of Jesus, but none of us lives it perfectly all the time. When and with whom do you have trouble following the Golden Rule? This moment, as you are reading about the way of Jesus, is the perfect time to ask God’s grace for times that you have forgotten the Golden Rule and to recommit yourself to living it— in everything.

Lord, forgive me for the times and places when I did not do to others what I would want them to do to me. Holy Spirit, prompt my conscience so that I might see the blind spots I have, and might, in everything, treat others the way I would want to be treated. Amen.

Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus