You.

Do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew seven, verse twelve a man came out of the store to find a motorcycle cop writing a parking ticket. Oh, come on, the man protested. Can't you give a guy a break? The officer ignored the comment and continued writing the ticket. Oh, that's real nice, said the man. Are you trying to fill a quota or something? The officer said nothing, but glared at the man while he started writing out another ticket, this one for bald tires. Oh, please, complained the man. That's just messed up. Sure, you've got a badge and a gun, but you're sure not making any friends here today. The officer calmly started writing a third ticket to place on the car. The man continued to complain for about 15 minutes. The more he complained, the more tickets the officer wrote. The man didn't really care, though, because his car was parked around the corner. I don't know if that's a true story or not. Regardless, I don't think that's exactly what Jesus had in mind when he said, do to others what you would have them do to you. The police officer was simply doing his job, and it's doubtful that the man complaining had the best interests of the car owner in mind. In any case, the poor actions and decisions that we make in life do not render biblical principles like the golden rule null and void. If anything, they merely validate those principles by demonstrating the need for them. The principle of the golden rule is simply this. We may have little control over the actions of others, but we most certainly do not have to do the same thing they do. We should do the right things for the right reasons, no matter what others do. Others may treat us like dirt and push us around, but we don't have to respond in kind. And we certainly don't have to treat others the way others sometimes treat us. What Jesus is really telling us to do is what's right, especially when it comes to showing kindness and respect to others. We might not change the world by doing so, but we just might make someone else's day just a little better.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.