The Golden Rule

Title: The Golden Rule

Text: Matthew 7:7-12

D.T Relationships require work, inaction usually leads to failure in relationships.

Introduction: READ Matthew 7:7-12

Matthew 7:7–12 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

“Do to others what you would have them do to you” this is one of the most famous and well known passages in the New Testament. If you were to ask a person who's never been to church, “what did Jesus teach?” I would bet their response would be “do to others what you would have them do to you.” Golden Rule” While most Christians would agree the Golden Rule is important, it’s actually the silver rule that most people follow.

The silver rule So what is the Silver Rule?The Silver Rule comes from something the Chinese philosopher Confucius once said. “Do not do to others what you would not wish to do yourself.” The Jewish Rabbi Hillel would say something similar. “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.” Do you notice how this is different from the Golden Rule? The silver rule focuses strictly on behaviors to avoid” If you hate being disrespected, don’t be disrespectful. If you hate it when people are mean, don’t be mean to people. You can see how some people define the Golden Rule this way. They would sum it up saying, if you don’t like it when people are mean to you, don’t be mean to people. We’ve all likely been guilty of defining the golden rule this way. It’s true that part of the Golden Rule is to avoid treating people in a way you hate. However the Golden Rule is so much more. The Silver Rule is passive, while the Golden Rule forces us to be active.

The Golden Rule Notice what Jesus says “Do to others what you would have them do to you” this is more than avoiding behaviors that people don’t like. It’s going out of your way to treat people in a way they enjoy. For example, if someone likes being treated with respect, it’s not enough to simply not disrespect them, according to the Golden Rule you have to treat them with respect, because that’s your preferential treatment. Mark Moore says this “We can do nothing and still completely satisfy the demands of the silver rule. If you want to avoid treating people in a way they hate, you can simply avoid interacting with them and you are still good. The Golden Rule calls us to go above and beyond. To learn enough about a person to understand how they want to be treated, and treat them in such a way. (Truett Cathy Illustration) The Golden Rule demands our utmost attention and action. The Golden Rule does not allow inaction. The Golden Rule does not allow you to be passive, instead actively seeking out how to better treat one another. Remember, Relationships require work, inaction usually leads to failure in relationships. The Golden Rule asks us to go above and beyond avoiding unwanted behavior, it asks us to seek out the way people WANT to be treated. It forces us to be active in our relationships.

Ask, seek, and knock This is only part of the message, because the Golden Rule doesn’t just apply to how we treat others, but God as well. So how does God want to be treated?

If someone what’s something from you. Let’s say someone wants to borrow something from you, or they want your help with something. Wouldn’t you prefer they just simply ask you, rather than beating around the bush. Most people would say yes. Here’s why

They are comfortable enough around you to be forward

They respect you enough to be honest

They love you enough to know that you are absolutely willing to help them

You might even feel hurt if people aren’t willing to be straightforward enough to ask you for something.

God is the same way. When we want something from him, when we have a request to ask him. He wants us to ask him. Ask, seek, and knock. That’s how God wants us to treat him. If we approach God in an honest way. Meaning that we aren’t requesting something harmful, and aren’t asking something selfish or faithless, then God will answer our request in the best way he sees fit. Sometimes the answer is yes, other times it’s no, and other times it’s wait. In either case, once we consistently approach God in our prayers. Not only do we show him that we love him enough to make big requests, and not be afraid to ask. He will also teach us how to change our mentality to focus on his will rather than ours.

Trust God Jesus asks his audience if your children ask you for bread, who of you will give you a stone? If your child asks for a fish, who would give you a snake? Most people in the audience would probably say “That’s absurd Jesus! If my kid asks me for bread, I’m not going to trick and swindle them by giving them a rock! Jesus would say “yes, that’s the point” If you are able to see through your inherent evil nature enough to grant the request of your children. How much more capable is God in giving you good and honorable gifts. So don’t be afraid that God is going to trick you! He loves you unconditionally, so don’t be afraid of things about him and make requests. God wants to be treated as a loving Father who provides for his Children. In order to follow the Golden Rule, we must treat him as such. So let us not be afraid to ask, seek, and knock.

Invitation: In conclusion let us remember that following the Golden Rule isn’t exclusive to our relationship with one another, nor is it exclusive to our relationship with God. Rather the Golden Rule must be evident in relation to both. Because the Golden Rule not only seeks out the well-being of others. It forces us to take an active role in all our relationships. Relationships require work, inaction usually leads to failure in relationships. Let us take an active role in our relationships. (Welcome Home)