Luther on Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Martin Luther wrote, "what could be more clear and concise than the truth stated in this verse? The world won't let us reflect on such words, however. Our corrupt nature will not let us measure our lives against any standard, let alone this one. We let this verse go in one ear and out the other. If we continually compare our lives and actions against this standard, we wouldn't live them so carelessly. They would have more than enough to do, and we wouldn't need to pursue other works we consider to be 'holy'. We could become our own teachers, and begin teaching ourselves the right way to live. We wouldn't need so many lawyers or law books, because this standard is concise and very easy to learn. If only we were diligent and serious enough to live by it!. Let me give an illustration...no one likes being robbed. You would surely admit that you wouldn't enjoy such an experience. Is it so hard to conclude that everyone else felt the same as you? And at the market, if you saw someone charging three or four times what something was worth, would you ask that vendor, 'Excuse me, would you like that to be done to you?' It seems to me that if he were honest and thinking sensibly he would love to pay more than it's worth. He doesn't want to be overcharged any more than you! I think you get the point! Your heart tells you how you would like to be treated, and then your conscience tells you how you should treat everyone else. I am saying this to you very simply just in case you missed the point of the golden rule!"

We learned the Golden Rule as children, we say as adults that this is just common sense, that it is a good way to live. And yet in almost every way conceivable, we ignore it, or find some excuse not to honor it. Luther, and Jesus, are challenging us to do the very least we can do to make sure we're doing the right thing. I mean really, how hard is it? The problem is, of course, that looking at the larger world this must be a very hard thing to do indeed! So, seeing how hard this apparently is, perhaps we should pray that God not just open our minds and our hearts, but open our lives to the power of the Holy Spirit! Because this world is in some serious need of intervention!