The
Golden Rule
“So
whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them”
The
story had once been told of a prisoner brought into a court of law,
the man was infamous for his scheming and violent ways. The judge
after hearing all of the case's pertinent evidence, delivered his
verdict:
“Guilty,” he boomed. “Off to the electric chair with
you.”
“But
judge,” began the convict, “what about the Bible?”
“What
about the Bible?” The judge waited for the man's answer”
“If
you were in my position would you want me to do that to you?”
“I
guess not,” his honor retorted, “however, had you asked that
question of the police officer you injured, the senior you robbed,
the woman who's arm you broke and the government official you lied
to, you wouldn't be here now.”
If
we would only ask that question of ourselves! Jesus did, and He
answered it outright in the act of of the crucifixion.
“Enter
by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy
that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and
those who find it are few.”
What's
junk is what's popular. Why is that burgers and french fries never
quite seem to disappear from our internal radars? As it is for cheap
foods, it is unfortunately for cheap behaviors, those things we know
do us little good yet do anyway. No one eats fast food for its
nutritional benefits, it is solely a habit of pleasure...or
desperation.
Finer
things require more of us than to simply consume, they require the
involvement of our mind and senses. To take sin as the better and
righteousness as the lesser is to prefer sour candies over freshly
baked pie with homemade ice cream, or potato chips over a hot
buttered croissant.
A
wise man once said that sin is quickly enjoyed and paid for after,
though what is pure and good requires initial payment yet enjoyed
longer. What God must change is how we view real pleasures.
We
stay on the narrow path is by learning to enjoy the scenery. We stay
in the will of God when we learn to delight in His good gifts.
Questions:
- How would following the Golden Rule improve your life?
- How can you delight in God and His gifts in your daily lives?
- What are some pure pleasures in your life?
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