Title: The Golden Rule of Therefore
hence the golden rule
October 9, 2010 (Sat) Tel Aviv Joppa Church
Text: Matthew 7:12
Today's text is a very famous verse. “Therefore, in whatever way you would like others to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
This short text is famous beyond religion and culture to the extent that people call it the golden rule. You can easily hear these words even outside the church. However, there are many cases where the original meaning of this word is misunderstood, misused, or understood without properly knowing its meaning. Most of them are anthropocentric and self-interested interests.
The first is that there are people who read the text literally. It has a very ethical character, and it applies to unethical aspects. This is the case. It's like, "If you don't want others to report your crimes, you shouldn't report other people's crimes either." Doesn't this actually happen?
When my friend was in the army, he was an administrative officer. At first it was a supply, and later it was an accountant. I don't know if this is still the case, but in the past, there was a lot of blind money in the military. It was recorded that they consumed more each month, secretly selling the surplus rice and oil, and receiving receipts for more than they actually were. It was the executives who took care of it, but the people who actually recorded and organized the books were administrative officers. When my friend saw the accountant, the person who saw the supply was the motive. I had a lot of trouble. Then it happened because of the newly appointed HR manager.
Before that, there were many cases where the company commander gave orders, and only in that case the HR manager would do it. I get unspent receipts almost every day, and it was very difficult for me to deal with them. Then, along with the motive of seeing the supply, I informed the company commander of this fact. The company commander also ate a lot, but the HR manager ate too much, so he got angry and disciplined him.
That same day, the HR manager called the two of them and asked how you could do that. If you sell rice and oil every month, they let the administrative class have a dinner, and if the two of you are going on vacation, they don't even give you pocket money. It was like how could this be to me. Turns out, he ate it too. I wondered how this person couldn't have done that with a pure heart.
This is the case. I will also close my eyes for unethical behavior, so it is a case of asking you to close your eyes too. How many of these cases are there in our society?
The second misunderstanding is when we apply this statement to other cultures. When I do what I want to be treated by someone from another culture, it can be rude to the other person.
For example, in the movie Ben-Hur, Judas Ben-Hur, the protagonist, on his way back from Rome to Judea after gaining the status of a free man from slavery, meets an Arabian merchant with a very nice racing horse. There are four white horses, and the horses are very good, but no one has tamed them to run the race. These were words that should not be used with a whip. But Ben-Hur handled these horses brilliantly without using a whip.
An Arabian merchant who is greedy for Ben-Hur invites Ben-Hur to dinner and treats it nicely. After eating, ask Ben-Hur if he ate well. Ben-Hur said that it was a very good meal, but the merchant doesn't seem satisfied with the sheep. What? Because Ben-Hur didn't burp. This is because in their culture, it is a greeting to eat well when you burp. Only after Ben-Hur noticed this and forced to burp, the merchant makes a happy expression.
I don't know if it's actually the merchant's culture, but it is. On the other hand, in Korea, people do not like to burp or blow their nose while making a sound during or after a meal. In the West, blowing your nose is fine, but coughing is not very good. In this way, if we have different cultures, it may be disrespectful or disrespectful to treat or demand from the other person in anticipation of the treatment I would like to receive from my point of view. The text does not say that.
The third is an understanding based on self-centeredness. In fact, this is the most common misconception and problem. It is a give and take mindset. It's a fair trade. Since I gave it to you in a fair way, I should also receive it from you. Conversely, since you did this to me, I will do the same to you. This is a common mindset people have, good or bad.
There are such words in Korean proverbs. ‘The words that go are good, and the words that come are beautiful.’ This does not simply mean words, but it also means that you have to be kind to others to be good to others. This is also true of the saying, ‘If there is an affection that comes, there is a love that goes.’ If you are good to someone, it means that you are good to that person as well.
What does everyone say? give and take Doesn't that mean you want me to do the same? Why is it difficult? I did it to you and you didn't do it to me. Or when I wanted you to do this to me and I did it to you and it didn't happen. There is affection for giving, but there is no affection for receiving. When that happens, I have a hard time, regret what I gave to them and feel bad for the other person.
They don't openly express their desire to be treated by others, but there are actually many cases where they want to be treated by others. However, when such a reward does not come from the other person, there are cases when they feel offended, close their hearts, or gossip about others because they think it is bad.