Seriously, what exactly makes it golden? Gold is shiny and relatively soft as far as metals go. It's very expensive, and an object of desire in most cultures. So how in the name of bullion did the golden rule get named the golden rule?
Cause let me tell you, it's not shiny and its not pretty! It's not relatively soft; it is exceptionally hard! I mean Chinese arithmetic hard! In fact the last thing on the planet I would call golden is the rule formerly mentioned as golden.
I think it should be called the "stinking impossible I can't stand it rule." Or the, "are you kidding me this is not possible rule!" Or the, "why don't you just cut out my guts and set me on fire rule!"
And on top of the fact that I don't want to keep the rule, there is an equally high probability that I'm not gonna get it in return if I do keep it. I mean it's like the more I try to keep the hardest rule in the world the less others have to!
Think about it, if I do for you what I wish you would do for me it is highly likely that will probably think I don't need you to do anything for me! And that stinks, right?
And listen, if I just keep on keeping the "Rule" I am gonna wind up worn out and wasted. And who knows if anyone will ever come along and treat me the way I want to be treated? Right? Not to mention it will probably cost me all of my gold. It should be called the gold-less rule for crying out loud!
But wait...that's what Jesus did. He came and He gave and He gave and He gave and He died. Sacrificed. Crucified. Despising the shame the Bible says.
And so the root of the root is this, Jesus said, "take up your cross and follow me." He said, "love others the way I love you." He said "my followers will obey Me."
So the question that haunts me is this, do I even try to live by the rule...do I try to keep the Rule in hopes of getting it kept toward me, or will I keep the Rule in order to please and obey Jesus?
A long time ago I learned that a "rule" is a measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood, metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths.
And so with all of the above in mind, how do we measure up to the Rule?
2 comments:
Kenn
I love the post. This is a perfect example of the paradox that is the Christian faith. Imperfect beings called to be perfect. You're right; it's impossible. What a Savior we serve who imputes his righteousness onto us so that the only thing we can boast in is Him!
It's not hard at all. I do it every day and it doesn't take much energy. I'm not perfect and don't do follow the rule all the time but for the most part I do pretty well. It's just the way I am. I don't do it to get treated that way back although it's nice when it happens. I do it because it's the right thing to do as far as how I see life.
I guess the reason it seems like a paradox to non believers is because you have no faith. Faith makes things much easier.We are NEVER called to be perfect. We are called to keep working at it. That is the essence of being human, that you just keep trying ! Too sad you both missed that one.
Post a Comment