Today’s scripture: Matthew 7:12 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
This surely is one of the most wonderful verses in the entire Bible. It’s so clear and idiot-proof to understand. People like me are in luck — we can comprehend it!
Sounds good on paper. Does it always work? To be honest, I do find that most of the time, if I treat other people nicely, they are nice to me in return . Sometimes it’s instantly; sometimes it takes a while, but usually it does work that way.
One of my favorite movies is Walt Disney’s Pollyanna (1960, with Hayley Mills). It’s about a recently-orphaned young girl who goes to live with her aunt in a small town. The aunt pretty much runs the entire place. Pollyanna’s positive attitude and kindness toward everyone she meets ends up winning over the hearts of everyone in town, including her aunt and the town’s grumpiest characters. Some would say it’s overly sappy, but I still like Pollyanna’s upbeat attitude and kindness toward everyone.
But what about the people of the world for whom this “treat other people the way you want them to treat you, and they’ll treat you the same way. . .”
Whoops! I just now noticed that I accidentally added “. . .and they’ll treat you the same way. . . .” (That was the implied outcome of the verse as I learned it in my earlier years.) Anyway, that’s how it’s supposed to work, right? That’s only fair; yes?
I guess I need to stop and think for a moment: does this verse not apply to me if the other person doesn’t treat me like he wants to be treated in the first place? Whom could I use as a treatment study for this point to ponder? Well, there’s always Jesus. . . (as if I didn’t already know that he’s the perfect role model!).
Let’s see here now. Was Jesus ever mean, cranky, slanderous, or viciously conniving? Did he ever lie, steal, cheat, or do other un-Godly things (no pun intended)? In essence, Jesus followed today’s verse perfectly. Yet, what did he get in return? The Easter season highlights several things: he was sold-out, abandoned, falsely accused, tortured, and murdered.
So, did Jesus stop following the directive in this often-called Golden Rule? No way! His promise to his followers (John 14:1-3, KJV) makes his continuous love clear: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Thought for the day: My world won’t see the Golden Rule unless I display it.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.