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The Golden Rule Lev. 19:18 (KJV) “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” In the Old Testament, God set up an order of Levitical Law. Many laws were written and these laws were set to protect the people of Israel from sin, death, and destruction. One of these laws came to be known as the Golden Rule in recent history through the New Testament (Luke 6:31 (KJV) “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”) In Leviticus and Luke, God is commanding His people to think of others as well as they think of themselves. For example, we should not hurt another because we would not want to go through that same pain. God was getting man to think of others with at least the same respect if not more than they have for themselves. The question remains: Why do people hurt other people? The Bible is saying that men in turn do what has been done to them. People are programmed at a very young age. A child that is abused grows up to abuse. A child that has been the recipient of anger grows up angry. A child that is around depression grows up depressed. In turn, whatsoever has been done to a person, that person will do to others. Perhaps people who have received evil in life think themselves to be unfit or unworthy and give to others that which they feel. A person who doesn’t love himself or herself, can’t possibly know how to love others. Jesus says it is possible to turn from the curses that keep us bound: Luke 6:32-36 (KJV) “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Love our enemies? Do good to them that bring harm to us? Jesus says we can do it. But how? We cannot do well by any carnal knowledge of love that we know, but only through Him. Do we see God as kind to the evil? Perhaps we do not understand mercy. How can we give to others and not want anything in return? That is not the American way! We’ve been taught: You give to me and I’ll give to you and whoever ends up with the better deal, the more power. Jesus promises a great reward to us if we are diligent in love: Luke 6:37-38 (KJV) “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” The reward is guaranteed that whatever measure we give, the same will be given back. If we do not judge, condemn or hold bitterness, God will reward us greatly. We will live life uncondemned and forgiven. Gal. 5:14 (KJV) “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Many people struggle in their daily walk with living right, doing the right things and being successful in what they have. Paul tells us that all of the law, all of what we need hangs on one thing: Love. May we love, as we desire to be loved. May others love us, as they desire. May we be sensitive to note when others have given evil to us, it is because they were given evil. But we can return for evil good and win our brother’s heart. -S. Chad Ross February Newsletter 2002 | Good and Evil part 1 of 2 | The Golden Rule Pastor's Journal February 2001 | God's Way | God-Appointed Boundaries |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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