The Golden Rule

By Ron Thomas

    There is a great bit of wisdom that has come from the lips of the Lord. We understand it as the “golden rule.” We are to do unto to others as we would want others to do unto us (Matthew 7:12).
    It is a sad occasion when Christians are encouraged to think that others have an attitude of coolness (or just plain cold) to a brother in Christ. To borrow the words of James, “my brothers, this ought not to be.” How can good come from such a way of thinking?
    It has been said, many times, that life, among other things, is a matter of interpretation. It is not possible for us to live is a world where we don’t interpret what we see and hear. We make evaluations based upon our way of thinking at the time of what we see and hear. But it is an entirely different matter when we interpret and make certain conclusions without important facts. The Lord encourages us to make righteous judgments. Be careful about interpreting the motivations and intentions of others (cf. John 7:24).
    Jesus said we are to judge righteously. That implies that we WILL make a judgment. But the standard by which we judge another must be the standard that we want another to judge us; this is the golden rule.
    Making judgments are not the problem; problems occur when we use a standard the Lord won’t recognize.

- Ron Thomas preacher for the Sunrush Church of Christ, Chillicothe, OH. He may be contacted through the congregation's website. http://sunrushchurchofchrist.com/