What is the golden rule? I’ve heard people say that the golden rule is this: “Whoever has the gold makes the rules.” That is pretty much true of the world’s golden rule, but that is not what the Bible says. Perhaps we should approach it from a biblical perspective to see what it actually means for us. The golden rule was something Jesus laid out in His famous sermon on the mount. That sermon was where Jesus busted up the old religious thoughts and practices of that day and established His kingdom principles for us to follow. Probably the most difficult one for us to follow is the golden rule. Let’s look at what it says. Matthew 7:12 “12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” That doesn’t seem so difficult, until you really start to apply it to your life. Do you really treat others the way you want to be treated? Do you speak to others the way you want to be spoken to? This kingdom principal is what Jesus said was one of the two greatest commandments. If you are keeping these two commandments, you are keeping all of the kingdom laws and principles of the prophets. You have to remember, that at the time when Jesus was speaking, the law and the prophets were all the scripture they had. So Jesus is saying that everything you know about what God requires of you can be summed up in this idea. If you are able to do this, you will be doing everything else the scripture tells us to do. Your kingdom glasses should filter everything through this principal. It will make decisions much easier to choose, but it will make the requirements much harder.
When you decide to make everyone else just as important as you think you are, it will change everything. Jesus wanted to be sure this kingdom principal was clearly in the new testaments well, so He mentioned it more than once. Matthew 22:34-40 “34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” There is yet another time that the scripture of the new testament mentions this. It seems like God really wants us to get this concept. It’s found again in the parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told when a lawyer tried to test His knowledge. Can you imagine trying to test the author of a book on the content of that book? Luke 10:25-29 “25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Well now, that is the big question, isn’t it? Who is my neighbor? This is the first question that you have to answer in order to
completely understand what Jesus has told us to do. Once we establish who our neighbor is, we can begin treating them with the same love we want to be treated with. This isn’t just some random thing that Jesus said. Look at the context of that principal. Luke 10:25-29 “25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus was answering the question of how to have eternal life. I’d say that’s a pretty big deal. Jesus continues and tells him the parable of the Good Samaritan about how a guy was beaten, robbed and left for dead. Two Israelite men passed by him and did not help, but the third person stopped to help. He was a Samaritan. Jesus finishes the story by asking the lawyer another question. Luke 10:36-37 “36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” “Go and Do” are action words. Jesus was saying it’s not enough to just talk about loving people. It’s not actually love unless you put an action to it. Jews and Samaritans were enemies, so the idea that Jesus communicated is clear. Even someone you consider to be your enemy is in fact your neighbor, and you are to care for them as you would your own family.
It’s really easy to love people who are lovable. But Jesus has called us to go far beyond our circle of friends, family and other church folks when it comes to loving people. Matthew 5:44-47. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” Loving people is not optional for us as followers of Jesus. It’s the one thing that separates us from those who don’t follow Jesus. It’s the evidence that will show everyone that we are His disciples. John 13:34 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” So let me ask you now: Who is your neighbor? Everyone... everyone is your neighbor. As a disciple of Jesus we do not get top pick and choose who we love. We are to love everyone? Those we disagree with politically? Yes. Those we disagree with theologically? Yes. Those who live lifestyles we disagree with? Yes. I didn’t say we have to endorse ungodly behavior... but we do have to love the people doing it. Only then are we actually fulfilling the golden rule and loving our neighbor as ourself. I trust by now, you have taken the spiritual gifts test I told you about last Sunday. Remember how Paul said your spiritual gifts
are supposed to be used? In love. That is the only legitimate way your gift can be used...to serve others in love. Not just your friends in church, but also those outside the church, in order to show them the love of God through your service. Ok, let’s talk practically. What does it look like to love your neighbor as yourself? What does it look like to treat everyone else the way you want to be treated? To speak to everyone else the way you want to be spoken to? To give everyone else the benefit of the doubt the way you want to be given the benefit of the doubt? To show mercy the way you want to be shown mercy? How about this one: How would you want to be treated if you walked into a new church where you didn’t know anyone? Would you want the people there to keep talking to their friends and leave you to figure out how things work and where things are located on your own? Or would you want to be welcomed by someone with love and a true desire to help you with anything you have questions about? All of these things encompass what it means to love others. Let me tell you about what love looks like practically. Neal told me this story just last week. You are going to continue hearing stories of Neal and Carrie’s life in ministry. Trust me, you will not get tired of hearing about How good God is. Neal told me about a situation that occurred several years ago. He drove past a guy who was homeless and looked like he was cold. Now you should know that Neal had very little while he was doing his inner city ministry. He lived in a place that didn’t have AC in the summer and didn’t have heat in the winter. When it got cold all he had were two blankets to keep warm. He felt God tell him to give the homeless guy a blanket. Since Neal was in need himself, he argued with God about only having two blankets to keep warm himself. So he drove on past the guy.
Then God said...But you have two and this guy has nothing. So what does Neal do? He turns around and gives they guy one of his blankets. That’s what love looks like. What do you have two of that someone else has none of? Here’s what that looked like in the early church in the book of Acts. Acts 4:32-35 “32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” Do you see what loving your neighbor as yourself and doing for others what you want done for you looks like? When you have extra..don’t rent a storage unit and save it for yourself, “just in case.” Find someone who needs the extra stuff you have...and give it away.
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