Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
The Diamond Rule
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is known as the "golden rule," and is taken from Matthew 7:12. We have all heard of the golden rule, but how many of us have heard of the "diamond rule"?
The diamond rule states: "Do unto others even better than you would have them do unto you." It is taken from Philippians 2:3, which reads: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
The diamond rule stands in opposition to manmade rules. It opposes such rules as the "rule or ruin" philos- ophy which says: "Destroy what you cannot use" or "If I cannot have it, then no one else can either." It opposes the man-made rule of "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." This is the rule of the' pleasure seeker, the one who lives from one party to the next. The diamond rule shows us that there is something more to life than pleasing one's self and fulfilling one's own selfish desires.
The diamond rule opposes the man-made rule of" might makes right." This is the rule of no restraint, any- thing goes. This rule declares: "If someone wants something that another has but he will not give it up, then take it by force." Such were the sons of Eli who" knew not the Lord" (cf. 1 Sam. 2:12-17). Let us not forget Ahab who coveted Naboth's vineyard in 1 Kings 21. Of such a people Jesus said, "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Mt. 26:52).
The diamond rule opposes the man-made rule of" getting by on the minimum grade." It says ''I'll do just what I have to do and that only." The rich young ruler thought that he could live by this rule and still inherit eternal life (cf. Mark 10:17-22). The priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side when they saw the man who had been wounded by the thieves lived by this rule (cf. Luke 10:25-37).
The diamond rule also stands in opposition to the man-made rule of "break even." It states: "Render good for good, evil for evil." The gospel does not tell us to avenge ourselves with an "eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" (cf. Mt. 5:38; Rom. 12:19). Paul did not tell us to persecute those who persecute us. He said: "Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not" (Rom. 12:14). He did not tell us to "render evil for evil." He said: "Rec- ompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men"(Rom. 12:17).
A Christian cannot live by any man-made rule. Man-made rules teach the philosophy of "looking out for number one." The Bible teaches us to look out for the well-being of others (cf. Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:4; 1 Tim. 5:8, 16; James 1:27; et al). In the context where Paul gives us the diamond rule, he says: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). We can prevent vanity, strife, envy, hatred and self-centeredness if we live by the diamond rule. To reach the lost, we must live by this rule. To be Christ-like and Christ-minded, we must live by the diamond rule: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. 2:4).
