Read: Luke 6
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
It has been called “The Golden Rule.” It is the ethic of reciprocity, the basis of all human rights. You can find its roots in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18 & 34) and it appears in various forms in practically every culture and religion known to man.
The Golden Rule is so universally embraced, at least in theory, because it originated with God.
So what if we actually began to live our lives by that ethic? What if the Golden Rule became our “gold standard for life”? Can you imagine how life on Planet Earth might change if enough of us got together and bound ourselves to this rule for living? Think of how your own private world would drastically improve if you treated everyone as you would want them to treat you!
Re-read the verses in Luke 6:27-43 and you will get a glimpse of the kind of things that would happen:
- You would encourage and edify even those who irritate you!
- You would pray for those who hurt you!
- You would offer reconciliation to those who have injured you!
- You would do good to those who have done bad!
- You would be generous with everyone—friend, foe, and those in need!
- You would criticize others less and work on you more!
- You would be kind even to those who are ungrateful and evil!
- You would prove yourself to be a true child of the Most High in word and in deed!
- What would happen if you did that? The world would be a much better place, that’s what!
Sounds like a good plan to me! How about you?
“Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” ~Samuel Johnson
What If God Took Over?
It is much easier, especially with this “rule for life”, to be a hearer of the word only, and not a doer. You and I live with a fallen nature that is self-centered, easily offended, and prone to hurt others in order to protect ourselves, yet we are called to live out the infinite values of God’s kingdom. We cannot do that on our own; we need God’s help. But he has promised to help. So take a moment to ask for divine assistance, and then look for ways to live out the Golden Rule in your every waking moment today.
You are right, it would be great. Therein lies the rub. If this were true of the whole world, it would be easy. It is easy to do good to those who do good to you. God gives us instructions in these verses to overcome the evil in the world and the evil in men's hearts with good.
Good and evil cannot coexist.
The one will always hate the other. As believers we are called to love the person and to hate the sin. The evil make no such distinctions. Just as they reviled our Lord because He was good, so will they also reviled all who follow His path.
This should widen the gulf between the righteous and the wicked. You shall recognize them by their works, and God shall judge each of us by our works.
So the heaven described is brought about only by the removal of all who will not follow God's commands.