If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.
Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets. (Mt 7:11-12)
Contrary to popular opinion nowadays, the definition of the Golden Rule is not “Whoever has the most gold makes all the rules.”
I know that there are some people who would like to think so; but, not true, not true.
“Do unto others whatever you would have them do to you.”
How succinct can one possibly get?
If we want people to be good to us, we need to be good to others. If we want people to forgive us, we need to forgive others. If we want to be loved, we need to love. And on, and on, and on.
It seems so intuitive, so simple.
Why, then, do we make it so difficult?
We expect to be loved, to be forgiven, to be honored, to be cherished yet we do not give any of that to others.
I am afraid people who live like that are in for a rude awakening — both on earth as well as eternally.
“What?!”
“Are you saying that our actions have eternal consequences as well?!”
As they used to say on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, “You bet your sweet bippee!”
Do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Do unto others as we would hope God does unto us.
Enough said…
FAITH ACTION: Do you want mercy, love, forgiveness, acceptance, understanding shown to you? Exemplify those virtues today.