Matthew 7:12: Living the Rule
Attention
1. Are you fulfilled in your marriage? Are you close to
your brethren? Are you at peace with your coworkers?
2. Jesus described a radical, unselfish approach to social
relationships. Mt. 7:12
a. This precept, commonly
called the Golden Rule, requires us to care for others as we care for ourselves.
b. The New Testament refers to
this principle as the Royal Law. Jas. 2:8
3. This Rule is so basic, so familiar, that we may not
realize how profoundly it can and should impact our lives.
[Proposition] Since God is love, we must learn to
practice love in our dealings with others.
I.
Defining the Rule
A.
Its Preeminence
1.
The Rule is the
foundation of God’s social laws. Mt. 7:12b; Mt. 22:39-40
a)
Love is a defining characteristic of God; He not only loves, He is
love. 1Jn. 4:8
b)
Love is the foundation for God’s dealings with men; He seeks our best
interests. 1Jn. 4:9-10
2.
This does not exclude God’s holiness and wrath. God is love, but
God is also light. (1Jn. 1:5-7)
a)
It is God’s holiness and wrath that bow us before Him; it is love that
keeps us there.
b)
Love is the foundation of God’s law, because God’s law is an extension of
His character.
B.
Its Practice
1.
The Rule is the
fulfillment of God’s social laws. Ro. 13:8-10
a)
Love is about action, not emotion. Love acts by obeying God. (cf.
Jn. 14:15, 21-24)
b)
Loving our neighbor is a decision to act for his good.
Ro. 12:17-21
2.
God is the model for the love we are called to live. Eph. 5:1-2
a)
Our attitude and actions to others are inspired by God’s manner to us.
1Jn. 3:16-18; 4:11
b)
God blesses His enemies, and so must we; God seeks peace with all men,
and so must we.
3.
Loving our neighbor is as simple as putting his best interests above our
own. Php. 2:3-8
a)
It does not matter how my neighbor behaves; the Rule is about how I
choose to act.
b)
It isn’t about you, your needs, your happiness, your wants; the Rule is
about others.
4.
Treat others as you wish to be treated, not as they treated you, not as
they deserve.
a)
The Rule is unfair. It requires us to do more than others, to be
unselfish when others are not.
b)
The Rule requires us to be like God, to love as He loves,
to do as He does. Lk. 6:27-38
5.
The Rule is radical; it makes us vulnerable to being taken advantage of;
it risks our things.
a)
Will we allow the world to determine our attitudes and actions, or will
we listen to God?
b)
The Rule is simple to understand; it provides a basic principle to guide
all our relationships.
II.
Imagining the Rule
A.
What if the World Lived by the Rule?
1.
Can you imagine a world that lived the Royal Law?
a)
What would the government look like that governed according to this
principle?
b)
Righteousness exalts a nation; such a nation would have the blessing and
protection of God!
2.
Unfortunately, human governments are inevitably flawed and corrupt, and
that will not change.
B.
What if Those Around Me Lived by the Rule?
1.
Can you imagine if your friends and family all practiced the Royal Law?
a)
How could this principle transform my boss’s behavior, my spouse’s, or my
in-laws’?
b)
How much simpler, happier, and better would our lives be if others
treated us this way!
2.
Unfortunately, we can’t make others change; we can only pray for and
encourage improvement.
C.
What if I Lived by the Rule?
1.
This is one person I can change: Me. Can you imagine your life if
governed by the Royal Law?
a)
How could this principle transform my behavior toward my boss,
spouse, and in-laws?
b)
How much simpler, happier, and better would my life be if I chose to live
this way?
2.
Why aren’t we living the Rule? This Rule should be our default
behavior; it should be our habit.
III.
Applying the Rule
A.
Living the Rule in the Home
1.
How could our marriages and family relationships be transformed by this
principle?
a)
The Rule excludes all selfish behavior; it requires us to think of others
before we act.
b)
This principle is a radically different approach to marriage and
parenting than the world.
2.
Are you living the Rule as a spouse, treating your mate as you would like
to be treated?
a)
Your spouse’s shortcomings are irrelevant; how are you choosing to
behave?
b)
There is no place for selfishness within the home; it’s about their
needs, not yours.
3.
Are you living the Rule as a parent, treating your children with the
respect you demand of them?
a)
Parents should be role models of the qualities they require of their
children.
b)
Love must be tough. The Rule demands we give others what they need,
even when it is hard.
4.
Are we encouraging our children to live the Rule in their dealings with
siblings and friends?
B.
Living the Rule in the Workplace
1.
How might living the Rule change our relationships and behavior in the
workplace?
a)
As an employer or supervisor, are you treating those under you as you
wish to be treated?
b)
As an employee, are you giving your employer the respect and effort you
would desire?
2.
The Rule applies to every person no matter their position or power.
C.
Living the Rule in the Church
1.
How might the Rule change our relationships and behavior in the local
church?
a)
As brethren, we should not look at each other for what we can get, but
for what we can give.
b)
It doesn’t matter whether I enjoy my brethren; what matters is that I
choose to serve them.
2.
I should give my brethren the benefit of the doubt, be longsuffering, and
gladly forgive wrongs.
Action
1.
Challenge:
Spend the next week, or two weeks, or thirty days focusing on the Rule.
a. Make a commitment to
practicing the Rule in all your relationships. Stop and think before you act.
b. Ask your spouse or a friend
to remind you of your commitment. See how dramatically your life changes.
2. God is love, and Jesus’ death for us teaches us the true
meaning of love. Will you obey Him? Mk. 16:16