By: Austin K. Dixon
Have you considered the golden rule (Mat 7:12)? Is this rule just a moral suggestion or is there something intrinsically connected to our relationship with God? Lets take a look.
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 (NASB95)
While most would likely agree that treating people in the manor you yourself want to be treated is a “good” moral law, we as Christians often miss how this is directly linked to our relationship with God. This is because how we treat others is not actually us treating them, but us treating God Himself. Consider the following verse:
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 (NASB95)
Notice the “to Him are all things.” ALL THINGS that you do are TO HIM (Christ)! Now that is a scary thought! Sadly, many Christians I have talked with do not think “all things” means “all things” but that it is rather a partial list of important actions…after all can choosing what you eat for dinner really be “to Him?” Well yes it can and yes it is. After all, God searches our heart and mind to understand the motive behind our decisions and actions (e.g. Jer 17:10; 1Ch 28:9; Rev 2:23).
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NASB95)
So when I pick out my meal, am I choosing the best pieces for me and leaving the scraps for others? Am I picking what will keep me healthy, better preserving my body which is God’s temple (e.g. 1Co 6:19-20; Lev 19:28; 1Co 6:19; Rom 12:1; 1Co 6:20)? Or maybe I am eating it because I worked hard and I earned it when really I should be thanking God that He provided me the ability obtain and consume the meal? Whether you realize it or not, you do everything for a reason and this reason is what God examines. So yes, ALL THINGS are TO HIM.
This concept is also reaffirmed by Jesus when He teaches about the final judgment in Mat 25:31-46. Here, the King (Jesus), lists all the things His subjects did to Him (i.e. both good and bad). Yet the subjects ask Him when they did such things to Him. The King replies:
The King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
Matthew 25:40 (NASB95)
The reality is that what we do to others, really isn’t to the other individual but to Christ Himself. This is especially hard to remember when we are wronged by someone and rightfully seek vengeance. But even here, such vengeance would be wrongly directed at God because “all things” are “to Him.” Additionally, vengeance is not ours but God’s (e.g. Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30; Deu 31:35). We are also judged based upon how we judge others (Mat 7:2). By this logic, because I justly seek judgement upon another, I should expect God to justly seek judgement upon me. Now I don’t know about you, but with the number of times I have sinned in my life, that thought scares me. So it is better to opt towards forgiving others and leave the judgements up to God. In this manor, I too can be spared judgement by the blood of Christ which has washed me clean (1Jn 1:7-10; Lev 16:30; Eph 1:7; Rom 5:9; Col 1:20). So don’t repay evil with evil, but do the honorable thing and trust in God to deliver judgement in His good timing (Pro 20:22, 24:29; Rom 12:17).
For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:2 (NASB95)
So while the Golden Rule is still a good rule, I feel it can be taken a step further to say, “Do unto others as you will have God do unto you!” Now that’s a strict rule that will challenge even the most pious individuals. Not only is it an excellent moral standard, it is the reality we live in.