THE GOLDEN RULEIt Is Practical

Selfishness Took Over

Since mankind had such a wonderful start, what happened? (Eve, the troublemaker, and man listening when he should not have) Simply stated, selfishness, made its ugly appearance.  Most people are familiar with the Bible's account of what the first human couple did, as recorded in Genesis chapter 3.  Urged on by Satan, an opposer to all that God stands for, Adam and Eve selfish rejected God's rulership in preference to independence and self-determination.  Their selfish and rebellious action resulted not only in great loss to themselves but also  in tragic consequences for all their future offspring.  That was a clear demonstration of the dire result of ignoring the teaching that came to be known as the Golden Rule.  Consequently,  "through on man sin entered into  the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned." -Romans 5:12. 

Though mankind as whole turned their back on the loving ways of Jehovah God, he did not abandon them.  For example, Jehovah gave the nation of Israel his Law to guide them. It taught them to treat others as they themselves would want to be treated.  The Law gave direction  on treatment of slaves, fatherless boys, and widows. It outlined how assault, kidnapping,and stealing were to be dealt with.  Sanitary laws showed concern for the health of others. There were even laws on sexual matters.  Jehovah epitomized his Law by telling the people:  "You must love your fellow as yourself," a statement that Jesus later quoted.  (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39, 40)   The Law also dealt with the treatment of alien residences among the Israelites.  The Law commanded:  " You  must not oppress an alien resident, as you yourselves have known the soul of the alien resident, because you became alien residents in the land of Egypt." In other words, the Israelites were to show empathetic kindness to the disadvantaged. -Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:19)  (yes, but he did say to treat them better than anyone else, He does not want us to show partiality to one particular race; as we All are equal. Tell that to the government)

As long as Israel faithfully followed the Law, Jehovah blessed the nation. Under the reigns of David and Solomon, the nation prospered and the people were happy and satisfied.  A historical account tells us:  "Judah and Israel were many, like the grains of sand that are by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.  (some people don't know when to quit drinking)  And Judah and Israel continued to dwell in security, everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree." -1 Kings 4:20, 25.

Sadly, the peace and security of the nation did not last long.  Though having God's Law, they Israelites did not observe it; they allowed selfishness to choke out their concern for others.  This, along with apostasy, resulted in hardship to them individually and as a nation.  Finally, in the year 607 B.C.E., Jehovah allowed the Babylonians to destroy the kingdom of Judah, the city of Jerusalem, and even the magnificent temple there.  For what reason?  " 'For the reason you did not obey my words, here I am sending and I will take all the families of the north,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even sending to Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them  against its inhabitants and against all these  nations round about; and I will devote them to destruction and make them and object of astonishment and something to whistle at and places devastated to time indefinite.' " (Jeremiah 25:8, 9)  what a price to pay for abandoning Jehovah's pure worship!

Next time: THE GOLDEN RULE It Is Practical -An Example to Imitate

The Watchtower, 2001