James Cash Penny started a general merchandise store in Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1902, which he built into a multi-billion dollar enterprise on the guiding principle of the Golden Rule. For years J.C. Penny stores were called “Golden Rule stores”. It was Mr. Penny’s belief that success would come by treating customers as he would want to be treated. This extended to how he treated his employees, whom he preferred to call “associates.” He knew by helping them to prosper, his own success would be assured. When he died in 1971, J.C. Penny’s was the fifth largest department store in America with over 1,700 outlets--the Golden Rule stores.
“Do unto others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Critics point out that this statement did not originate with Jesus. It had been around for centuries, as far back as the Code of Hammurabi, 1780 BC. It wasn’t called the “Golden Rule” until the late 1600’s. Nearly every world religion has some form of this rule. As a teacher, Jesus often reminded his audience of truth; all truth is God’s truth. This wasn’t a new concept but an old truism that needed reinforcing.
Notice the context: Jesus has just been talking about prayer, how God generously blesses us in spite of our sin, even though we hardly deserve His favor. We’re to take that same grace and extend it to others. Do you want mercy? Then be merciful. In fact, make a list of ways you like to be treated…then make that list your plan for how you treat others.
What is unique about the version Jesus presented is how He turned this notion around from passive to active. The Golden Rule, prior to Jesus stated: “Do not treat others in ways you would not like to be treated.” In other words, discover what brings you pain and resolve not to inflict such pain on anyone else. This was the form the rule had until Jesus, who gave it a positive focus--that of proactively seeking good for others, not merely avoiding harm. Saying “I haven’t hurt anybody” isn’t enough. Have you helped anybody? It is relatively easy to not hurt others, yet much more challenging to find ways to help others.
Passive faith doesn’t meet God’s standard. Bring up the nasty subject of sin and people will claim, “Hey, I’m not such a bad person; I haven’t killed anyone or robbed any banks.” OK, but what have you done? It’s not enough to avoid wrong-doing; what positive things are you accomplishing? “What on Earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?” Our Lord’s version of the Golden Rule expects more than passive compliance; it expects active obedience. The pious (self-righteous) religious leaders felt confident in their conduct because they hadn’t murdered or robbed anyone…then Jesus explained that the spirit/intent of the Law of God includes hatred and coveting, which nearly everyone is guilty of.
The Golden Rule is best seen as a guiding principle of consistent fairness; a standard of beneficence, kindness, compassion, and mercy. If we live the Golden Rule, we're following a standard of concern for others which lies at the core of ethical conduct.
A companion principle is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18), which has been called the “Royal Law of God’s Kingdom”. The Apostle James refers to this in cautioning us not to show favoritism but treat all people with respect. We don’t “do unto others” just because of what they might do for us! This rule has no quid pro quo. We reach out to others, even when we have nothing to gain.
Lately the Golden Rule seems to have lost some of its luster. In today’s competitive world, cynics have restated the Golden Rule: “Those with the gold make the rules.” Money talks…it also can corrupt and consume. Just ask Ebenezer Scrooge. Or even worse: “Do unto others before they do unto you!” Jimmy Hoffa warned, “I do unto others what they do unto me--only worse.” You don’t have to cheat or fight back or put self-interest first in order to win in life…but that’s a tough-sell in today’s dog-eat-dog world.
I suspect Ayn Rand didn’t care much for this rule. The author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead held a viewpoint she called Objectivism, which dictates that we should put self-interest first. Rand expressed contempt for those who couldn’t help themselves. She stated: “My philosophy is the concept of man attaining his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” The idea of laying down one’s life for others has no place in self-centered worldviews like Rand’s that only “look after #1”.
This rule might be just slightly adjusted: “Do unto others as they’d prefer it done unto them.” I think that’s the intent of the rule. I happen to enjoy opera, but I know enough not to inflict my musical taste on others! The notion behind the Golden Rule is that we don’t do what others wouldn’t like, even though it’s what we’d like. I had a commander who was a very bottom-line person. You wouldn’t want to give him tons of detail. Out of consideration (and because he was my boss) I kept my briefings brief. He once complained of another officer: “Ask him what time it is and he’ll tell you how to make a watch!” The principle is all about being sensitive to the needs of others.
What keeps us from living the Golden Rule? We often don’t want to be compassionate; we want to be right…we want to be powerful and important…we want to put self first… we’re too easy on ourselves and too hard on others…we want to retain the right to dislike others.
A psychologist conducted a social experiment with a group of college students. He had them jot down the initials of people they disliked. Some of the students had trouble with this and could only think of one or two people they disliked, while others found the task easier and jotted down quite a few (some needed more time!). After follow-up interviews, the psychologist discovered that those who disliked the largest number of people were themselves the most widely disliked.
This Rule is a standard of giving--and forgiving. Those who do not forgive others demolish the bridge over which they themselves must pass. Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. We need to treat others the way we hope to be treated. There’s no peace for me till there’s peace for you.
Who makes the rules governing ethical behavior? We believe the God Who created us has also established right and wrong. Physicist Stephen Hawkins has entered the Intelligent Design debate. In his new book, The Grand Design, he argues that the universe spontaneously came into being apart from any divine activity. In other words, he rejects the view of Creation. If he is right, then there is no need to follow the Golden Rule--or any rule. Without God, there are no moral absolutes, only arbitrary preferences.
After reframing this rule, Jesus adds, “…for this sums up the Law and the prophets.” The essence of the Bible’s teaching is contained in this rule. It is a summary of every command given in Scripture. The Law of God is perfect, and consequently it shows us how far we fall short of God’s expectations. We do not measure up to this Gold Standard; and so, while we aim at goodness, we fail miserably and need pardon. And God is willing to forgive us because Jesus died for us, taking the punishment we deserve.
You can’t help but wish, “If only the nations of the world would follow this Rule, there’d be peace on earth.” Next week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be holding diplomatic negotiations in Egypt with Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. Will she succeed? Only if these leaders really want peace. The world’s failure to implement the Golden Rule is due to human depravity--sin. All the peace summits of the world will fail until people start with God. Scripture tells us to “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” We don’t start with our neighbor; we start with God.
In the Golden Rule Jesus calls us to go to practice an unselfish standard of righteousness. This is what He did. And this is what He empowers us to do.
