The Golden Rule

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

These words of Jesus know as the Golden Rule provide a social framework that if adhered to generally would represent what God has always wanted from His people. Jesus said “doing to others as you would have them do to you” would summarize the Old Testament Law. It would provide a kind of practical care in society that would eliminate much of the wrong that happens among us. It would create altruism at its finest.

It is simple: Treat others like you want to be treated. Through the transformative effects of the gospel this can and should happen. Of course, without the gospel at work in us, selfish sinfulness would threaten our ability to do this at all. But if I truly want others to know the grace that I have in life through Christ, it would make sense for me to share the gospel greatly and freely with others. The gospel is how I want to be changed. I want others to experience it as well because it is so good. So if I link together the Great Commission to make disciples with the Golden Rule to love as I wish to be loved, good works and the gospel can together make maximum impact in my world.

Unfortunately Christians may not always make this linkage. They separate preaching the gospel from gracious good works. And then good works become an end in themselves and a kind of legalism emerges. We become proud of who we help and what we do and how much we volunteer and miss Jesus truly transforming both us and the ones we want to serve. Or we may share the gospel out of a rigid obedience and ignore a need, making our efforts unfruitful. A homeless person may need the gospel, but it ought to come with some warm shelter and a meal. For us to love people made in God’s image means truly and practically helping them (especially if their condition is the result of their own wrong choice). You must do this the way you would long to be helped if you were in that same situation. This changes all of us. This lives out the gospel. This is how we “do to others” according to the Golden Rule.