Although extremely difficult to live up to, the Golden Rule is beautiful in its straightforward simplicity: "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)
Beyond its simplicity, there is another aspect of the Golden Rule that had never occurred to me until I read The Good Works Reader by Thomas Oden: it demonstrates that we are without excuse.
Oden quotes early church Father, John Chrysostom: "In this statement Jesus briefly sums up all that is required. He shows that the definition of virtue is short and easy and known already to all."
Nobody is able to plead ignorance before God of the good he or she should do for others!
Chrysostom continues, "What is less of a burden than this? What is more just? So we all know within ourselves what our duties are. We cannot ever again find refuge in ignorance."
When Jesus says to us, "Do unto others what you would have others do unto you," his words are both challenging and convicting.
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