What is the golden rule?’  And no, it is not the one that says that ‘he who has the gold makes the rules’, although that one is sadly quite true.  And it’s not: ‘do unto others before they can do it to you.’    It is ‘do to others as you would have them do to you.’ Matt. 7:12     Is this what we teach our kids?  Do we live this out in our workplaces and homes? 

   Notice that it doesn’t have any conditions attached either.  It’s not: treat others the way you want to be treated unless you don’t like them, then you can do whatever you want.  It’s not: treat others the way you want to be treated unless they have recently ticked you off and now, you’re going to let them have it.

  It is rightly called the golden rule. It’s also been called the ‘Mt. Everest of ethics.’  It is very interesting how this principle, if practiced, is able to settle hundreds of arguments and questions without having to resort to coming up with lots of little petty rules to try to control people’s behavior.

  In a very real way, it is a paraphrase and explanation of the second greatest commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.  Well, how do you do that?  Treat them the way you want to be treated!

    Jesus said in everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. Jesus lived that way.  May each of us seek out ways to put this great golden rule into practice, in our homes, at work and in our communities.