Most of us are familiar with the Golden Rule where Jesus tells his followers, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

It is a command to extend our natural self love, self care and self interest to a love, care, and concern for others irregardless of who they are, how they act towards us, and especially what they might or might not do for us.  It’s not conditional.

It is a departure from the law of reciprocity which says, “Be good to other so that they will be good to you – specifically those who capable of being good to you in return.”

It is choosing to act not out of your own self-interest – sometime to the detriment of your self-interest actually – but to base your actions on who you are and the God you are trying to live in faithfulness to.

The most common way the Golden Rule is stated is in the form that Jesus originated, the positive or directive form.  “DO to others..”  “Take action.”  “Take initiative for others good.”  This is my favorite form because it is action oriented and it implies that we are to keep our eyes open for opportunities to act.  To accomplish this we have to change our perspective on our place in the world and our role in it.  We are to be people who walk through the world, looking for opportunities to love people and treat them well.  The positive or directive form of the Golden Rule gives us a new purpose and mission in life, in our daily life.  In pursuing that single mission, God will find us faithful.

Even though I have my favorite, the Golden Rule can be expressed in two other ways, and they are instructive as well.

The second way the Golden Rule can be expressed is in the negative form – “DO NOT treat others in ways that you would NOT like to be treated.”  I think this is the meaning that elementary school teachers often have in mind when they explain the Golden Rule to their classrooms (Do they still do that?).   In the moment their goals are much more simple and focused than passing on an identity forming life purpose.  They want to have a classroom culture where Emily P. DOES NOT hit Jessica M. because she felt excluded by her at lunch (or where Jessica M. gets excluded by Emily P. at lunch for that matter).

The negative form of the Golden Rule comes across as less like a mission and more like a boundary not to cross.  It is important nonetheless.

The third way the Golden Rule is expressed is in the emphatic form – “What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself.”  This form gets more into our heart towards others and emphasizes action less than the first two.  It leads us to ask questions of our attitude towards others and invites us to work out good dreams in our hearts for others, even people who hurt us.    Instead of wishing loss, suffering, or death on an enemy it may lead us to wish that God would lead them to true repentance or maybe even wish that God and life would be merciful and kind to our enemy, knowing that we also need God’s mercy and kindness.

I invite you to spend a little time meditating on the Golden Rule this week.  You might find more that speaks to you and challenges you than you might have thought.