Living by the Golden Rule: Impact on Relationships

“…all things whatsoever ye that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) 

How difficult is it to treat others well when they have been unkind to us?

Perhaps we feel justified in withholding goodness based upon the way that another has treated us. Yet, to do so is to place a condition on this command that is not there.

How many family relationships, marriages, friendships, churches, etc, have split or been dissolved because of a failure to properly apply the Golden Rule?

“I will be good to my family as long as they treat me well…”

“I will be nice to my spouse as long as he or she is nice to me…”   

“I will be good to my friend as long as he or she does good by me…”

“I will treat my brother or sister in Christ well as long as they treat me well.”

There is no “as long as” in Matthew 7:12.

The Sermon on the Mount is calling on us to live by a higher standard; one that is sometimes challenging for us.

Maybe we have family members who are difficult to deal with. It could be that they do not always treat us in a way that is kind, but as citizens of the Kingdom we are to rise above that. Paul writes, in Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Could it be that we are the difficult one to deal with?)

Regarding marriage, conflict will arise from time to time; how do we respond?

If we are resolute to practice what is taught in Matthew 7:12 as it pertains to our spouse our relationship will be impacted in a positive way.

However, if we live by the rule that says I will be good to him or her in as much as they are good to me, it will severely damage our relationship with our spouse.

As it pertains to the church, how much division could be avoided among Christians if the command of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 was employed?

Matthew 7:12 is a character-building command that will enrich all our relationships when put into practice. Practicing the “Golden Rule” is to be like Christ; let us all strive to be like Christ.