The Golden Rule (17 of 20)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 7:12
''So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.''
Many people hear the words ''god,'' or ''church'' or ''religion'' and think about rules and guilt. This was true in Jesus' day as well. To be considered righteous by the Jews one had an incredibly long list of laws that had to be obeyed. It came to the point that the Jewish religion had become an almost impossible burden to bear. It was driven by the external motivation of fear, rules and what not to do.
In contrast to this Jesus presents the Golden Rule that was not focused on the external motivations of rules and prohibitions but on an inward motivation of love. It was not calling us to do the minimum to get by, but the maximum good that love could provide. To better understand this teaching let's look at the following example of minimum vs maximum.
Not breaking traffic laws is good, but it is the least we can do as Christians. Thus it is minimum. Stopping to help someone with car trouble is a maximum act motivated by love not by rules or fear of being caught.
Not cheating at school is good, but it is the least we should do as Christians. It is the minimum motivated by rules and consequences. Taking several afternoons to tutor a fellow student who is struggling to pass the class is the unexpected act of love that is an expression of maximum good.
Being sexually pure before marriage is good, but yet again a starting place, a minimum. A more maximum way of living would be to actively prepare yourself to be a blessing to your future mate. Motivated by love a Christian single can become financially responsible, physically fit, emotionally healthy and spiritually near God, so that if they do get married they will be a blessing.
Not being angry with your children is a good goal, but once again minimum. Maximum love would take time to play, read, laugh with a ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 7:12
''So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.''
Many people hear the words ''god,'' or ''church'' or ''religion'' and think about rules and guilt. This was true in Jesus' day as well. To be considered righteous by the Jews one had an incredibly long list of laws that had to be obeyed. It came to the point that the Jewish religion had become an almost impossible burden to bear. It was driven by the external motivation of fear, rules and what not to do.
In contrast to this Jesus presents the Golden Rule that was not focused on the external motivations of rules and prohibitions but on an inward motivation of love. It was not calling us to do the minimum to get by, but the maximum good that love could provide. To better understand this teaching let's look at the following example of minimum vs maximum.
Not breaking traffic laws is good, but it is the least we can do as Christians. Thus it is minimum. Stopping to help someone with car trouble is a maximum act motivated by love not by rules or fear of being caught.
Not cheating at school is good, but it is the least we should do as Christians. It is the minimum motivated by rules and consequences. Taking several afternoons to tutor a fellow student who is struggling to pass the class is the unexpected act of love that is an expression of maximum good.
Being sexually pure before marriage is good, but yet again a starting place, a minimum. A more maximum way of living would be to actively prepare yourself to be a blessing to your future mate. Motivated by love a Christian single can become financially responsible, physically fit, emotionally healthy and spiritually near God, so that if they do get married they will be a blessing.
Not being angry with your children is a good goal, but once again minimum. Maximum love would take time to play, read, laugh with a ...
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