Living the Golden Rule: Love in Action
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound and transformative power of the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," as taught by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. We began with a story from the movie Aladdin, where the false notion of the Golden Rule is humorously depicted as "Whoever has the gold makes the rules." This sets the stage for understanding the true Golden Rule that Jesus teaches, which is radically different and others-focused.
We delved into four key aspects that make the Golden Rule so golden, using the acronym GOLD:
1. Great Sum: The Golden Rule sums up the entire law and the prophets. Jesus simplifies the complexity of the Old Testament laws into this one guiding principle, making it accessible and actionable for everyone.
2. Others Focused: This rule challenges our natural inclination towards selfishness. It calls us to prioritize the needs and well-being of others, turning our hearts outward in love and service.
3. Love in Action: The Golden Rule is not just about avoiding harm but actively doing good. It requires us to take tangible steps to show love and kindness to others.
4. Displays Jesus: Jesus himself embodies the Golden Rule. His life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate demonstration of doing for others what we would want done for us. He used his divine power to serve and save humanity, setting an example for us to follow.
We concluded by reflecting on how Jesus' fulfillment of the Golden Rule calls us to live it out in our daily lives. Just as Aladdin's final wish was to set the genie free, we are called to use our resources and prayers to set others free and meet their needs. This is the heart of the Gospel and the essence of living a Christ-like life.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Golden Rule as the Great Sum: Jesus simplifies the entire Old Testament law into one guiding principle: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This rule encapsulates the essence of God's commandments, making it easier for us to understand and live out our faith. It serves as a cheat sheet for living a life that pleases God and reflects His love. [05:55]
2. Others Focused: The Golden Rule challenges our inherent selfishness by directing our focus towards others. It calls us to think about what we would want for ourselves and then do that for others. This shift from self-centeredness to other-centeredness is crucial for living a life that honors God and serves humanity. [09:02]
3. Love in Action: The Golden Rule is not just about avoiding harm but actively doing good. It requires us to take tangible steps to show love and kindness to others. This proactive approach to love transforms our relationships and communities, making the love of Christ visible and tangible. [14:11]
4. Displays Jesus: Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of the Golden Rule. His life, death, and resurrection are the perfect examples of doing for others what we would want done for us. By following His example, we not only obey His teachings but also display His love and character to the world. [19:10]
5. Transformative Power of Prayer: Just as Aladdin's final wish was to set the genie free, we are called to use our prayers and resources to set others free and meet their needs. This outward focus in our prayers and actions reflects the heart of God and brings His kingdom to earth. [22:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - Aladdin and the False Golden Rule
[02:46] - The True Golden Rule
[04:20] - G: Great Sum
[05:55] - Simplifying the Old Testament
[07:32] - The Child Prodigy Example
[09:02] - O: Others Focused
[10:32] - The Seagull Heart
[12:07] - Vacation Bible School Generosity
[13:35] - L: Love in Action
[14:11] - The Big Word: Do
[15:43] - Active Love vs. Passive Love
[19:10] - D: Displays Jesus
[20:50] - Jesus Fulfills the Golden Rule
[22:29] - Aladdin's Final Wish and Our Call to Action
[23:45] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 7:12 (NIV): "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
2. Luke 6:31 (NIV): "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say the Golden Rule sums up in Matthew 7:12?
2. How does the Golden Rule challenge our natural inclinations according to the sermon? [[09:02]]
3. What are the four key aspects of the Golden Rule as described in the sermon? [[04:20]]
4. How did Jesus embody the Golden Rule in His life, according to the sermon? [[20:50]]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus describe the Golden Rule as the "Great Sum" of the Law and the Prophets? How does this simplify our understanding of God's commandments? [[05:55]]
2. How does focusing on others, as the Golden Rule instructs, help us combat selfishness? [[09:02]]
3. What does it mean to put "love in action" according to the sermon, and how is this different from merely avoiding harm? [[14:11]]
4. In what ways does Jesus' fulfillment of the Golden Rule call us to live it out in our daily lives? [[20:50]]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you could have applied the Golden Rule. How might the outcome have been different if you had? [[09:02]]
2. Think of a person in your life who often tests your patience. What specific action can you take this week to show them love and kindness, as the Golden Rule instructs? [[14:11]]
3. How can you use your resources and prayers to set others free and meet their needs, similar to Aladdin's final wish in the sermon? [[22:29]]
4. Identify one area in your life where you tend to be selfish. What steps can you take to prioritize the needs and well-being of others in that area? [[09:02]]
5. Jesus used His divine power to serve and save humanity. How can you use your own abilities and resources to serve others in your community? [[20:50]]
6. The sermon mentioned the transformative power of prayer. How can you make your prayers more outward-focused this week? [[22:29]]
7. What is one tangible way you can put "love in action" in your daily routine, following the example of Jesus? [[14:11]]
Devotional
Day 1: The Golden Rule as the Great Sum
The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," encapsulates the essence of God's commandments. Jesus simplifies the entire Old Testament law into this one guiding principle, making it easier for us to understand and live out our faith. This rule serves as a cheat sheet for living a life that pleases God and reflects His love. By following this principle, we can navigate the complexities of life with a clear and straightforward guide that aligns with God's will.
This simplification is not just about making things easier for us; it is about making the law accessible and actionable for everyone. The Golden Rule distills the vast and intricate laws of the Old Testament into a single, powerful directive that anyone can follow. It is a call to live out our faith in practical, everyday actions that demonstrate God's love to the world. [05:55]
Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV): "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"
Reflection: Think of a complex situation you are currently facing. How can you apply the Golden Rule to simplify your response and align it with God's will?
Day 2: Others Focused
The Golden Rule challenges our inherent selfishness by directing our focus towards others. It calls us to think about what we would want for ourselves and then do that for others. This shift from self-centeredness to other-centeredness is crucial for living a life that honors God and serves humanity. By prioritizing the needs and well-being of others, we reflect God's love and create a more compassionate and just world.
This principle is transformative because it requires us to step outside of our own desires and consider the impact of our actions on others. It is a call to empathy and selflessness, urging us to treat others with the same kindness and respect that we desire for ourselves. This outward focus is a powerful antidote to the selfishness that often dominates our lives. [09:02]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who could benefit from your help or kindness today. What specific action can you take to prioritize their needs over your own?
Day 3: Love in Action
The Golden Rule is not just about avoiding harm but actively doing good. It requires us to take tangible steps to show love and kindness to others. This proactive approach to love transforms our relationships and communities, making the love of Christ visible and tangible. By actively seeking opportunities to do good, we become agents of God's love in the world.
This principle emphasizes that love is not merely a feeling or intention but an action. It calls us to move beyond passive avoidance of harm and engage in deliberate acts of kindness and service. This active love has the power to change lives and build stronger, more loving communities. [14:11]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can show active love to someone in your community today. What tangible step can you take to demonstrate God's love through your actions?
Day 4: Displays Jesus
Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of the Golden Rule. His life, death, and resurrection are the perfect examples of doing for others what we would want done for us. By following His example, we not only obey His teachings but also display His love and character to the world. Jesus used His divine power to serve and save humanity, setting an example for us to follow.
This principle calls us to look to Jesus as our model for living out the Golden Rule. His sacrificial love and selfless service are the ultimate demonstrations of this principle in action. By imitating Jesus, we can reflect His love and character in our own lives, making His presence known in the world. [19:10]
1 John 3:16-18 (ESV): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you had the opportunity to display Jesus' love but fell short. How can you better follow His example in similar situations in the future?
Day 5: Transformative Power of Prayer
Just as Aladdin's final wish was to set the genie free, we are called to use our prayers and resources to set others free and meet their needs. This outward focus in our prayers and actions reflects the heart of God and brings His kingdom to earth. By praying for others and using our resources to help them, we participate in God's work of liberation and transformation.
This principle emphasizes the power of prayer and action in bringing about change. It calls us to look beyond our own needs and intercede for others, using our resources to make a tangible difference in their lives. This outward focus aligns our hearts with God's and allows us to be instruments of His grace and love. [22:29]
Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."
Reflection: Think of someone who is struggling or in need. How can you use your prayers and resources to help set them free and meet their needs today?
Quotes
1. "Well, the golden rule turns our lives upside down as well, because we always want to think of ourselves typically first. But Jesus says, that's not the way God's kingdom, that's not the way Christians should live. We're supposed to think about other people first. And so in Luke's gospel, let's put it up on the screen. All the kids, this is from the NIV version, to repeat after me, and adults. You guys ready? Let's do this. One, two, three. Do to others, do to others. All right, let's do it. I'll do it, then you repeat. You ready? And then we'll, okay. Do to others, do to, as you would have them, do to you. All right, let's put it all together. You ready? Do it with me now. One, two, three. Do to others, as you would have them, do to you. All right, let's give the kids a round of applause for that. If you don't remember anything, these are the words of Jesus. Never forget that." [02:46] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus said that if you sum up the whole Old Testament and all of God's laws and all of the commands, they all sum up in this rule. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Which means you have the cheat sheet and the answer at the end of the test. You have the number. Have you ever had a trouble doing the problem, and then you get the answer, and you work backwards to figure it out, right? We have the answer. And if you do the math, and you come up with a different answer, you are wrong, and Jesus is right. Amen? Amen. All of it points to this great command of how we love others. And so this rule is gold, because it is the grand sum. Jesus has given us the answer." [07:32] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Now, it sounds so simple, but it really is hard. Now, it's hard not because we don't understand what Jesus is telling us, but because of our sin and our selfishness, we like to think of ourselves first, right? When we think of three wishes, we're not normally saying all the things we want other people to have. I want them to have more power. I want them to... We're thinking of ourselves. But that is why this rule is so gold. Because it gets to the heart of the problem in human beings and helps us turn our hearts the right direction towards God and others." [09:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Because when we want more, more, more, more, did you notice the more you want, the less happy it makes you. And we never grow out of that the older we get. And so I want you to remember, and if you didn't do it last year, get ready this year to start saving your nickels, your dimes, and your quarters. Kids, we're looking under the sun. We're looking under the sun. We're looking under the sun. We're doing extra chores for their moms and dads. Anything they could do to raise more money for that offering. And I want to speak this over the whole church, and I'm going to talk more to Bill about it. But what if we found a way to do that year-round with our children, amen? And for our adults as well, because Jesus said it's more blessed to give than to receive. May the seagull heart of the mine, mine, mine be turned off through the power of Jesus, amen? That we would be thinking You, you, you, you. This rule is gold because it's others' focus." [13:35] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "It's not only a great sum. It's not only others' focus. It's not only love in action, but it displays Jesus Christ. I want to put another scripture up. This is how Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount. He says, do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. Now follow me here, boys and girls and moms and dads. Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7 are the greatest scriptures that Jesus has ever preached called the Sermon on the Mount. And he starts the sermon saying, I have not come to abolish the Old Testament and the Bible. No, I've come to fulfill them. And then he ends and says, and this is what they all add up to, this golden rule. Which means that Jesus not only calls the world to do the golden rule, Jesus came to fulfill it himself. Amen? And that's exactly what Jesus has done for you and for me. He came with all of his power. He came with all of his wealth. And he came and made himself poor for you. He came to heal those who were hurting. He came to the outcasts to welcome them in. He came to those who were sick and he healed them. He came to those who were left out and he adopted them into his family. Jesus is the golden rule. And he's applied it for your benefit and for mine. Because Jesus on the cross died the death that he didn't deserve. To give you life. Because that's what you need. Jesus thought about you on the cross. He pours out his love for you. Even now." [20:50] (104 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Then when you think about what you pray for, could we stop just praying for what we want? We should ask for our daily bread. We should pray for the bread of others. Amen? We should be praying about what the world needs and directing that divine power to them because the Father hears our prayers. He hears about where our prayers go. We are called to be men and women, boys and girls, that don't forget about love and do love to the entire world because that is what God in Christ has done for you. Amen? May we do unto others. Let's repeat it one more time. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. One more time. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. One last time. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you for the glory of God because this rule is gold. Amen?" [22:29] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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