So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
In 1750, John Wesley, the great evangelist, pastor, theologian, creator of Methodism, and grandfather of the Holiness Movement and Pentecostalism, coined the phrase “The Golden Rule.”*
The words of Jesus now known as “The Golden Rule” invite a simple act of daily life that sums up all of the law.* To simply treat others as you would like to be treated would position us to make this world a better place. So why do we fail so consistently in this area?
When we want to be loved, we push others away. When we want to be heard, we quit listening. When we want compassion we quit caring. Why do we do this? I know I do it. Why?
We read this invitation of Jesus and think that it’s a promise of Jesus. We read “do unto others as you would have them do to you,” and we hear, “if you treat others ________, then they will treat you the same way.” This is not the case.
Many of us have attempted to be loving, and felt that we got nothing in return. We paused to listen time and time again, but the favor wasn’t returned. We showed we cared, but no one attended our needs or even saw them. So what did we do? We quit.
Jesus doesn’t promise how people will respond or when. He simply lays our the expectation of how followers of Jesus should conduct their lives.
If everyone lived out The Golden Rule, this world would be a better place. We all would be treated as God desires His children to treat one another. Sadly, we cannot count on this, we can only live this ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask Him for help to live The Golden Rule. Perhaps you have been expecting The Golden Rule to serve as a promise in our life that if you give a certain thing that you will get it back in a certain amount of time. Maybe God is asking you to live like Jesus did, dying to self and for those around you with no promise of return.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
sign up just below for a daily reminder of the one step devotional. click here to return to devotional list.
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 172-173, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 7:12) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).