Living My Life Like its Golden

It was the summer of 2004 when Jill Scott returned with her second album. At this point she was well established in the Neo Soul Genre. Songs with a grove but also offering words of consciousness. Some of you remember the Lauren Hills, Erika Badu

I'm taking my freedom, pulling it off the shelf Putting it on my chain, wearing it 'round my neck I'm taking my freedom, putting it in my car Wherever I choose to go, it will take me far

I'm livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

I'm taking my own freedom, putting it in my song Singing loud and strong, groovin' all day long I'm taking my freedom, putting it in my stroll I'll be high stepping y'all, letting the joy unfold

I'm livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

I'm holdin' on to my freedom, can't take it from me I was born into it, it comes naturally I'm strumming my own freedom in the god in me Reverence in his glory, hope he proud of me

I'm livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden Livin' my life like it's golden (Golden)

Livin' my life like it's golden, golden, golden, golden, golden, golden Livin' my life like it's golden, golden, golden, golden, golden, golden Livin' my life like it's golden, golden, golden, golden, golden, golden Livin' my life like it's golden, golden (Livin' my life, livin' my life) Living my life like it's golden, it really matters to me oh!

One person said:

Living my life its Golden means living authentically while also making a difference in our families, our workplaces, our communities and in the world. To me this is what it means to live my life like it’s golden, and it feels so much more alive and empowering than chasing the elusive “American Dream.”

This text is translated like this: 12 a All of everything, then, that you wish that people should do to you, so also you are to do to them. For this is the Law and the Prophets.

This concept of Law is understood as culturally or divinely prescribed regulations for living. So I have a question for you How are you living? When the lawyer challenged Jesus asking what is the great commandment in the Law Jesus answers: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:37–40). Paul used this reference in Roman 13:8 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. He goes on to say You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Ro 13:8) (Ro 13:9–10). Lets look at this .

I. The Simplicity of the Principle – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. This is a principle that even a child can comprehend. The simplicity does not detract from its significance, and yet it is often ignored. We live in an age of excess, indulgence, and greed. Few take the time to consider the needs or feelings of others. Our world is influenced by social status and most are willing to do whatever is necessary to get ahead, even at the expense of others.

We would all have to agree that our world would be a much better place if all people were committed to living according to this simple principle. Our Lord was very clear and precise with this command. This simple principle lies at the heart of humanity; it speaks of the love and care that should be present in all people. Living by this we would no more shootings of innocence people. No more babies getting shot in the back of cars or 90 year olds sitting on their porch or 17 year olds walking down the street.

I have said before: it isn’t those things in the Bible we don’t understand that trouble us most; we have more difficulty with the things we do understand. Many desire to know the will of God for their lives, but few are willing to do those simple things that God commands. Micah 6:8 – He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Eccles.12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Or Joshua 24:15 As far as me and my house we will serve the Lord!

II. The Significance of the Principle – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. It is evident that the Lord desires each of us to practice what He has commanded. It isn’t enough to know what the Bible teaches; we must be willing to put those teachings into everyday practice.

This significant principle cannot be separated from obedience to God. If we are to be what the Lord desires of us, if we are to represent our Lord in a way that pleases Him, we must be willing to live according to this principle. When the “Golden Rule” is lived out in our lives, we are showing the love of God to others. We cannot please our Savior if we are unwilling to love our neighbor. Mat.22:37-39 –I already told you, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Gal.5:14 – For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Where would any of us be if God had responded to us in relation to how we responded to Him? What if God would have dealt with us according to what we deserved? Consider the treatment of Jesus prior to the crucifixion. He had every right to have destroyed His accusers. They were not worthy of His love or His sacrifice. He did not render what they deserved. He offered grace instead of wrath. He offered what they needed instead of what they deserved.

The same is true in each of our lives. We were not given what we had earned or deserved. Jesus dealt with us in tender mercy and grace. We are expected to show that same grace to others as well, even if we feel they don’t deserve it. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us!

III. The Sympathy in the Principle – One cannot look at this teaching of our Lord and miss the sympathy required. If we lack sympathy, we will never seek to treat others as we desire to be treated. One must have compassion for the needs of others. We must seek to understand their need and even feel their pain. We have all had occasions in life where we simply desired someone to be sympathetic to our need, to treat us as they would desire to be treated.

There are those among us who just need someone to care, someone to offer compassion. They have been rejected and mistreated enough. We have the opportunity every day to make a difference in the lives of people. We have the chance to show compassion, revealing the love of Christ, to everyone we meet. Harsh words and criticism will not win them, but love might. What can you do for someone who is hurting? Someone who is down? The arm of compassion is needed today!

Many times in Scripture we find Jesus moved with compassion. He wasn’t critical or demeaning. Surely what they experienced was the result of the fallen nature of humanity, but He always responded in love and sympathy. Even as He was dying upon the cross, He prayed for their forgiveness. We need to see others as God sees them, and I can assure you, our outlook toward other people would be different.

IV. The Specifics of the Principle – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. I want to go back to the thoughts of our introduction. This is not a command that is negative and passive; it is positive and active. It involves more than simply not doing wrong. It isn’t limited to refraining from those things that we don’t enjoy from others. Surely, we wouldn’t want to be mean or harmful to others, but that alone isn’t enough.

It also involves more than just doing good. As Christians we ought to have a desire to live our lives in a godly manner. We ought to do good at every opportunity. The command our Lord gives takes that a step further. This actually requires that we seek to do good to others. It has the idea of “looking, seeking, and searching for opportunities to do good for other people.” It is going out of our way to be kind and compassionate. Rom.15:1-2 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. That isn’t being kind when it is convenient, or when others are kind to us; it is actually seeking ways to treat others in a Christ like manner.

V. The Scope of the Principle – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: This would have been easier to fulfill had our Lord commanded this behavior in some things, in good things, or even in most things, but He commanded this in all things. He has not offered an optional or conditional requirement, but a continual command in every circumstance we face.

How often have we “snapped” back at someone who was rude or short with us? How often have we allowed bitterness to build up in our lives and withheld compassion or help to those who have wronged us previously? How often have we ignored the needs of others simply because we had no desire to help in their situation? No doubt we are all guilty, and we have all failed in living according to God’s will for our lives as some point or another.

If you going live your life like its Golden then you will have to apply the Golden Rule to it! Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Or should I just say do unto other what you would have done unto you!