As a middle-aged adult, there are times when I long for the simplicity of preschool.

Back then, the days were filled with coloring, music, and running around the playground. The teachers even gave me a snack and let me take a nap.

THAT WAS THE LIFE!

Ah, but that was then, and this is now.

 At first glance, the Golden Rule might sound extremely basic, like something we learned in preschool:

“Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

Sounds simple, right? Simple enough that, on the surface, even a preschooler can understand it. But while it may be easy to comprehend, it isn’t necessarily easy to live out.  

Here’s what makes the Golden Rule so challenging: The goal isn’t simply to not mistreat people. After all, most of us are capable of not being jerks on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, just because we’re not mean doesn’t mean we’re following the Golden Rule.  

Notice that Jesus says, “Do this” as opposed to “Don’t do this.” By stating the Golden Rule in a positive way, Jesus raises the bar considerably. He emphasizes what He wants His followers to actually do.  

As you can see, keeping the Golden Rule is far more than passively refraining from being unkind or inconsiderate.  It’s actively displaying Christlike goodness.  

Essentially, we are called to treat people the way Jesus treats us. And how does Jesus treat us? With dignity, patience, grace, kindness, and forgiveness, to name a few.  And keep this in mind – Jesus treated us this way long before we gave Him a second thought. He didn’t wait for us to get our acts together before loving us. (Aren’t you glad?) Instead, He “demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). 

Compelled by the incredible love and mercy we’ve received from Jesus, we must seek to show that love to others. (1 John 4:19). We don’t wait to see how people treat us. Rather, just like Jesus, we should take the initiative and allow the Golden Rule to govern our interactions with others, regardless of their behavior.  

What’s more, Jesus tells us to live this way “in everything” (Matthew 7:12), meaning we carry the Golden Rule with us wherever we go. In situations both big and small…with everyone we encounter…we treat people the way we’d like to be treated if we were in their shoes.  

This is what it means to follow the Golden Rule.

(It’s not sounding so easy anymore, is it?)

Candidly, it’s far easier to write about the Golden Rule than to put it into practice, especially when we have to deal with difficult people. 

Our only chance of truly living it out is not natural but supernatural, relying on the power of Jesus moment by moment.

Imagine how this cruel, dog-eat-dog world might be transformed if we really started to take the Golden Rule seriously. The world, or at least our little corner of it, might begin to shine a little bit brighter. 

So, take a second to envision those folks in your little ‘world.’  

Ask Jesus for the power to do to them as you would have them do to you. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab a snack and take a nap.

Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH