The Golden Rule - Give and Take

Golden Rule

 

Matthew 7:7-12

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 

 

1

Is there anyone who still remembers what we pondered over last Sunday? If you need some hints, I can give you one. Last Sunday was Father’s Day and we had a moment to think about Father and Mother. Anyone? Today we are going to learn an important principle of life normally people call the Golden Rule. Do you know what the Golden Rule means? For me, the Golden Rule seems one of the most fundamental basic things to do for a good life. When it comes to the basic, we are likely to disregard it because we think the basic is for kids and beginners. Well, believe or not, I think that in almost everything, the basic is the most important thing. For example, if you want to swim well, there are three basic things you must learn and remember forever. They are how to kick, how to stroke, and how to breathe in the water. As soon as you master them, however, you forget how to do them. When you master all the four different forms of swim, interestingly enough, you no longer think of how to kick, how to stroke, and how to breathe in the water. It is because you already got used to them and your body remembers them, right?

 

2

With that being said, today I would like to ponder over one principle about life Jesus taught his disciples, so to us too, more than 2,000 year ago. If you can keep this in mind, trust me, your life will go smoothly with your parents, friends, teachers, and so on. Let us begin with reading the principle. It is in Matthew 7:7-12.

 

3

Long and difficult sentences! Can you summarize Jesus’ point in them? By any chance, do you have your best friend? What about your worst friend? Do you have your worst friend? Yes, most of us have one best friend and one worst friend. Then, do you know why your best friend is the best friend and why your worst friend is the worst friend? I think that one of the common things among our best friends is that they are friendly to us, although not to everyone, but at least to us. Another is we like them a lot because they like us. By contrast, one of the common things among our worst friends is that they are mean to us; of course, there are friends they are friendly to, and which makes us sad or angry. Another is we dislike them because they dislike us.

 

4

In the spring semester, one day my first son Jinu told me, “Daddy?” “What’s up?” I said. “I hate Spanish.” “Why?” I asked him. “The language is strange,” he said. I asked again, “What makes it strange?” “I don’t know,” he said. We took a pause. “The Spanish teacher is strange,” he opened his mouth again. “How is the teacher strange to you?” I asked again. He said, “She is too strict and always make us sing in Spanish even though we do not understand it. She said that is the best way to learn Spanish. So I don’t like her.” We walked with no further conversation. “Jinu?” “What?” “Do you know the strange principle of relationship?” What is it? When you hate someone, even though pretending you do not hate, the person already senses it and reacts to it by hating you.” He seemed surprised. “So, Jinu, the best way you handle such a situation is change your mind and try to like the Spanish teacher. Then, she will change her mind too and like you.” “OK,” he answered, hesitantly. About a week ago, my wife and I checked his last school record. His Spanish grade obviously tells that he continued to dislike her and that the teacher also did not like him.

 

5

Today Jesus teaches us that if you want to be treated by your friends well, you have to treat them well first. If you want to have good friends, Jesus says, you have to be good friends first. If you want to be loved, you have to love first.

 

6

Honestly, this is what so many people try, but most of them give up because it is really difficult to put into practice. When you get older, this becomes more and more difficult. So, guys, why don’t we put this basic principle of life into practice from today? When you master this principle as a child, I am sure that when you grow up, you will always have a number of good friends you can rely on whenever you need them. Do you understand what I am saying?

 

 

Prayer

Friendly God, thank you for helping us remember you, come to this church, and worship you. Today we took a moment to think about your teaching on the principle of give-and-take. We want to be liked. We want to be loved. We want to be recognized. Now we know that for that to happen, we have to like others first, we have to love others first, and we have to recognize others first. We promise that we practice what we learned today in our daily life at home, at school, at hakwon, and at church. We pray in your name Jesus Christ. Amen.