Help to live out the Golden Rule

The Realization of our inability to live as faithful KC’s will drive us to Jesus (Matt 7:7-8)

Explanation: Context again is very important. These next sentences follow immediately after Jesus’ warning against KC’s being involved in hypocritical judgments. Yet, we know that we are called to make judgments with discernment - how else can we fulfill the expectation of verse 6 about the dogs and the hogs?

On our own, we are inadequate for the task at hand; we need Divine help. Jesus knows our needs, and He tells us the answer: we are to ask, seek, and knock. We are to go to the Father and request help.

All three of the verbs (ask, seek, and knock) are in the present continuous, meaning that we are to ask and keep on asking; we are to seek, and to keep on seeking; we are to knock and to keep on knocking. In short, we are to be persistent in prayer!

Illustrate: Spurgeon commented on the intensity of our ‘knocking’ in prayer by using the phrase “dead as a door-nail.” The metal knocker was lifted up and brought down upon a protruding nail in the knocking process. Repeated use over time would wear down the nail to a dead nub.

ASK: If we each had a “spiritual” door knocker that was tied to our prayer life, what is the condition of our nail? Is it still in mint condition due to infrequent use or is it worn out due to our incessant, passionate, and continual prayer?

Note of Caution: These two verses are focused on prayer, but these prayer principles are not to be lifted out of context or they can be severely abused! Note the universal nature of the response: everyone who asks gets, every one who seeks will find, and everyone who knocks will have it opened. Taken in isolation, these 2 verses lend much support to the prosperity gospel’s Name it and claim it heretical teachings.

Application: We are called to persistence in prayer as we pursue righteousness. Jesus told us to seek the Kingdom of God as our first priority, so our asking, seeking, and knocking are to align with that goal.

KC’s can approach God with Confidence because the Judge is also our loving Father (Matt 7:9-11)

Explanation: Jesus further explains His imperatives of asking, seeking and knocking by giving a contrast between human fathers and the Heavenly Father. Jesus observes that human fathers know how to give their children good things. When the son or daughter asks for something that is good for them, the dad does not give them something hurtful instead. After pointing out the nature of earthly parental care and love, Jesus gives a “how much more” statement in relation to how God gives to His children.

Argument: Several commentators point out the description Jesus gives to earthly fathers. He says, “If you then, being evil,” a broad statement that includes those who are in Christ. Jesus is emphasizing the fallen nature of man in general. Even lost men can love their children and provide for them as best they can.

Application: Embrace the abundance of the Father’s love and let it govern your prayer life. Realize you aren’t praying to a stingy, mean-spirited God who wants to keep you down. Take confidence in knowing that God loves His children and He truly wants to give us good things for our flourishing.

KC’s can extend grace and love to others instead of giving hypocritical judgments (Matt 7:12)

Explanation: Jesus gives a masterful statement of life and ethics that is known as the Golden Rule. Much ink and countless sermons have been devoted to this single verse because of its impact. Jesus Himself states it “is the law and the prophets,” which is shorthand for saying this one principle serves as a summary of the entire Law and the teaching of the prophets!

Given its importance, we who name the Name and follow the Master should not only understand this principle, but it should also govern our lives. Jesus tells His followers to treat others like they want to be treated.

Argument: Before going further, let us not miss the first word of v. 12: ‘therefore.’ Jesus is reminding us that KC’s are NOT to be negative, harsh-spirited hypocrites who are looking for the faults in others. Instead, we are to persevere in prayer for the wisdom to live out our lives in a way that glorifies God and promotes the good of others.

The Golden Rule is a summary statement of what that type of life looks like. It will be a life that is positive towards others and one that initiates doing good to one’s neighbors.

The ethic of the Golden Rule sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Jesus tells His followers to actively work towards giving to others in a manner that the follower wants for himself.

Example: Pastor Don Green of the Grace Life Pulpit used the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to illustrate this principle. The priest and the Levite ignored the injured man as they passed by. They did not do hurt or harm to the man, but neither did they help him. The Samaritan operated by the Golden Rule and went and helped the man.

Argument: The Golden Rule motivates us as Christians to understand what is truly best for another person based on how we want to be treated and then to move out of our comfort zone to give that to the other. Sometimes, the other person does not understand what is best for him and may even resent the KC for trying to intervene.

Example: Consider how much you enjoy being a believer. You have Jesus in your life, your sins have been forgiven, your eternity is secure, and you enjoy being in the fellowship of the saints. You are saved because someone loved you enough to share the Gospel. Someone told you about Jesus and what He did on the Cross and how it could change your life. What a blessing!

You like being on the receiving end of the Gospel, so would you not also want others to know Jesus? The lost may not appreciate hearing the Gospel and they may reject it, but following the Golden Rule will lead to us sharing it with them anyway.

Contrast the positive ethic of the Golden Rule with the negative approach of all other religious systems. From Ghandi, to the Buddha, and from ancient Zoroastrianism to rabbis in Jesus’ time, they all present the ethic as “if you don’t want someone to do it to you, then don’t you do it to them.

Example: If you don’t want to get murdered, then don’t murder others. If you don’t want your stuff taken, then don’t be a thief. If you don’t want others to gossip about you, then don’t gossip about others.

Someone has called this the “silver rule” as opposed to the Golden Rule. The danger for Jesus people is that if we aren’t surrendered to the Spirit and focused on walking worthy of our call, we will naturally drift to the silver rule. This ethic will keep us inside our church buildings and keep us from being effective in terms of Kingdom Ministry.

Conclusion: Living out our lives according the principle of doing unto others as we want them to do to us is not merely difficult; it is impossible apart from the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We who are in Christ have the ability to live out the Golden Rule for the Glory of God and for the good of our neighbors.

Question: Are you actually living out the Golden Rule or have you drifted down into the easier ethic of the silver?