Golden Rule

Many of us have heard or read the phrase,

"How's that working for you?"

It's usually stated to mock someone.

They've reached a certain level in life, mentioned it, and a listener scoffs,

"How's that working for you?"

They were NOT impressed by that so-called achievement.

DOES THE GOLDEN RULE WORK?

A disappointed believer or a skeptic might question the benefit of following the Golden Rule.

What's the Golden Rule?

It was taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to His followers.

"In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you.

For this is the essence of the Law [of Moses] and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31

Why should someone even TRY to do this all the time?

A couple of reasons include --

Because God the Father gives His children so much, Luke 12:32; Romans 8:31-32; Ephesians 1:3-8 they can be generous to others, too.

"So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11

Secondly, Jesus shared that His disciples are to be kind, compassionate, and merciful to the ungrateful and wicked just as their Father in heaven is. Luke 6:35

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36

GOLDEN RULE EXAMPLES

PETER was one of Jesus' first followers. Matthew 4:18-20

Peter began to say to Him [Jesus],

"Look, we have left everything and followed You." Mark 10:28

Peter spoke for himself and the eleven other apostles of Jesus.

It was a slight exaggeration because Peter still had a wife and a mother-in-law. Matthew 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 9:5

Matthew was still identified as a tax collector, not a former tax collector. Matthew 9:9; 10:3

But the attitude of Peter seemed to express his belief that they had all CHANGED DIRECTIONS for Jesus, some more than others. Matthew 4:21-22; 9:9; 10:3; Mark 3:13-19; John 1:43-51

They did to the Lord what they would want others to do to them, IF they asked,

"Come and follow us. We'll make you better and you'll do something more important."

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.

They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

And at once they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-19

So, we could ask,

"How's that working for you Peter?"

Jesus could speak up and answer positively --

"Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel

will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." Mark 10:29-31

Jesus could answer again in defense of those who forsake all (in attitude at least) to follow Him.

Then Jesus said to all of them,

"If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Luke 9:23-24

Peter and others were willing to suffer and did so for Jesus' sake. Acts 5:40-41

Peter was also told how he would die to glorify the Lord. John 21:18-19; 2 Peter 1:13-15

Did the Golden Rule work for Peter?

His final words show that it did --

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

MORE GOLDEN RULE EXAMPLES

JESUS washed His disciples feet as a low-level household servant would do to give them an example of doing the Golden Rule. John 13:3-17

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS loving each other with His love is a witness to others that they are His. John 13:34-35

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Doing this is part of imitating the Father.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. Ephesians 5:1

Doing the Golden Rule certainly involves kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that flows from His love.

"How's that working for you?"

Are there any REWARDS for regular believers doing the Golden Rule by giving Jesus' love in these ways?

"If anyone serves Me [Jesus], he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well.

If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." John 12:26

Jesus replied,

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.

My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace [unearned and undeserved favor],

demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

There will be a reward of a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8

Blessed is the man [any believer] who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

NOTABLE WOMEN and the GOLDEN RULE

How about the WOMAN with the ALABASTER JAR?

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. Matthew 26:6-7

She was criticized by others who thought that it was wasteful but Jesus praised her action. Matthew 26:8-12

She did to Jesus what she would want done to her if she were going to die to save the world as the Lord did. John 10:11, 15, 17-18; Romans 5:6-10; Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5

"How is that working for you?"

Look at her great reward --

Jesus said,

"Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." Matthew 26:13

How about TABITHA (DORCAS) in the Acts of the Apostles?

She was always occupied with works of kindness and charity, ministering to widows in particular, making them clothing. Acts 9:36, 39

She demonstrated the Golden Rule.

"How did that work for you, Dorcas?" a mocker might have said when she became SICK and then died. Acts 9:37

The Lord Jesus Christ raised her from the dead!

How about that as a wonderful benefit of her having done the Golden Rule?

Then Peter sent them [widows] all out of the room.

He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!"

She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Peter took her by the hand and helped her up.

Then he called the saints [Lord's people] and widows and presented her to them alive.

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Acts 9:40-42

Doing the Golden Rule might make you famous as these two women became.

Even if it doesn't, you and I could be great.

Jesus said,

"The greatest among you shall be your servant.

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12

Your thoughts?

R. Jason