The Golden Rule aka the Golden Ruler
Aw! The old “Golden Rule”. Personal reciprocity. I like the word, reciprocity — as in harmony like a situation or relationship when two people or groups agree to do something similar for each other. So, if we took the Golden Rule to heart, then it should be simple to follow, and even go beyond.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s right there in Matthew 7:12. Easy to find, but too often it is not so easy to follow.
I remember that it was grade school where we were taught the “Golden Rule”. It was emphatically brought to our remembrance when one of us needed discipline. It set the tone for our respect and appreciation for each other. Our teachers would quote it to a kid who was a bully or to a kid who was disrespectful to their teachers or peers.
Oh. My. Goodness. Why isn’t “The Golden Rule” more prominent in our schools, workplaces, homes, politics – literally, EVERYWHERE, today? Why don’t politicians pull out their “golden ruler” and show us what “doing unto others right” looks like?
Whatever our religious or faith persuasions might be, what a difference it would make if we lived our lives adhering to those beautiful words. If we made those words the absolute non-negotiables in our lives, this world would be such a better place.
We all want others to treat us as we treat them, right? Maybe it’s the changing seasons, or the refreshment that comes from a short vacation to Lubbock, TX (my sweetheart’s hometown and the notorious home of Texas Tech – his alma mater). That’s where we are right now. We had dinner with many of his cousins last night!
That means I am intentionally striving to keep the “golden ruler” in my back pocket all the time. Spouses, loved ones, friends and acquaintances — are reasons enough to be packin’ the “golden ruler”! Now that I’ve been married for almost two months, I see even greater the importance of “Doing unto my husband as I want him to do unto me.”
This “ruler” points us in a clear direction of treating everyone with dignity, honor, respect, and kindness which is the way we want to be treated. What if we sought out for others the same potential and possibilities that we seek for ourselves? What if we helped others as we would like to be helped ourselves?
If we want love, let us give love; if we want kindness, let us give kindness; if we want respect, let us give respect; if we want “innocent until proven guilty”, let us judge others as “innocent until proven guilty”. If we desire to not be judged, may we not judge others. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will be used for us.
Luke 6:31 also records Jesus saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This statement is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Jesus led by example — He treated people that way. Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.
If we lived by the Golden Rule, attaining a higher mindset and heart-set, then maybe it will be the best “rule of measure” for us to use daily to spread love and peace to our world.