"And
as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise." Luke 6:31. This is a good rule for
everyday living. It is known throughout the Christian
world as "The Golden Rule." It has great depths.
It contains more no doubt than any of us comprehend. But
let us study it for a moment. We might divide it into two
rules: First, Do good to all; second, Do harm to none. We
would that all men should do us good, and we would that
none should do us harm. But if we would see the greater
depths of this rule we must look beyond the physical man.
To do good to all and harm to none in a bodily or physical
sense is indeed good, but to do good to all and harm to
none in a moral sense, is much better. We should do all we
can to help others in a moral sense. Is not this what we
would have all men do to us? We should do harm to none in
a moral sense, because we would have none do us harm. This
necessitates living a very holy life.
There are two ways in which we may
do good to men morally: first, by strengthening the good
that is in them; second, by suppressing and helping them
to overcome any evil or fault that may be in them.
Likewise there are two ways in which we may do harm to men
morally: first, by strengthening and encouraging the evil
and fault that may be in them; second, by suppressing and
destroying the good that may be in them.
We are all creatures of influence.
We are being influenced, and we are having an influence.
There never was a human life but that had some influence
over some other human life. We influence more by example
than by words. If we say one thing and act another, we
shall find our actions speaking more loudly than our
words. If we love God with all our hearts, that love will
influence another to love him. Never was love lost. The
love you have, O child of God, will find its way into some
other life sometime, somewhere. The more of God's love
that is beaming out of our heart and life, the greater
will be our influence upon others. Then may we love him
with all the heart. We should be filled with the Spirit.
If we are spiritual, we cause those we converse with to
desire to be more spiritual. We should be full of faith
that our strong faith may help others to have more faith.
We should like for others to be such an example to us; and
as we would that men should do to us let us do to them.
It is a very great source of
regret, indeed, to be so destitute of love, faith, and
spirituality that we discourage and dampen the ardor of
those into whose presence we may be for a time. Be your
very best for God every day of your life and wield a holy
influence over the hearts of men. The very greatest
benefit we can be to man and the highest homage we can pay
to God is to be filled with all the fullness of God.
