What Is “THE GOLDEN RULE”?

What we call “the golden rule” applies to the general guideline on how we should treat other people:

“In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.”

Matthew 7:12

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:31

This social guideline is referred to as “the royal law” in the Bible:

If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

James 2:8

True believers live a lifestyle that reflects “the golden rule” or “the royal law.” This rule is the simplest of guidelines to live by: Do to others as you would have them do to you. For instance, if you don’t want people to be rude and insulting to you for no justifiable reason, don’t be rude and insulting to others. If you want people to be respectful and courteous towards you, be so toward them. If you don’t want people to gossip about you, don’t badmouth others behind their backs.

Imagine the global revolution if everyone lived this way — there’d be no theft, no adultery, no malicious lying, no racism, no wars.

I’m stunned when I come across intelligent confessing believers who’ve gone to quality assembles for decades and yet don’t follow this simple rule. They might as well get out a megaphone and say, “I’m not a true believer! I’m a fake Christian!”

Of course, the golden rule doesn’t mean you have to be nicey wicey in situations where tough love is in order:

5Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6

This is relevant to the golden rule — doing to others as you would have them do to you — because truly godly people want others to correct them if they are in the wrong because it will improve the quality of their lives and their service to God; only an arrogant fool — a mocker — hates legitimate correction:

7Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

8Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9

Kindness is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the kindest thing you can do for someone who’s walking in harmful error is correct him/her. As such, there’s example after example of believers boldly confronting & correcting others in the New Testament, such as Matthew 16:23, Matthew 18:15-17, Matthew 23:13-33, Acts 8:9-24, Acts 13:8-12 and Galatians 2:11-14.

This article is available in book form in chapter 4 of…