The Golden Rule and More

Matthew 7: 9-12
NIV
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Most people who have been to church at least once in their lives have more than likely heard this passage. Or at least verse 12. We call it “The Golden Rule.” However, a lot can be taken from this passage about how I feel religion or faith should be approached from the very beginning.
It is my belief that this passage points out how God feels about us. I am also convinced that it points out how we should approach life as we try to walk a righteous path.
To address the first, in the verses 9-11 there is a direct comparison to God as a father. Not as a Heavenly Father or the Father of us all, but as a normal father; one that we can understand completely. This comparison speaks volumes about the relationship between God and his followers. Many seem to put an emphasis on God’s wrath or Jesus’ sacrafice for us. Don’t get me wrong, those are both very very important things to remember and think about. Jesus did die for us. He gave his life so that ours would prosper. And God’s wrath is certainly nothing any of us want to encounter. But allow me to pose a question (or series of questions.) Would you want your children to obey you only because they’re afraid of being punished? Would you want them to obey you because they know that you’re willing to die for them? Or would you rather they love you and obey you because they love you? You see, there is a tiny but important difference in those mentalities. It’s the difference between fear of God and reverence for him. It’s loving God simply because he’s your father. Sure we’ll falter and fail. We will often fall short of his grace. But, as any good father, he will forgive us if we ask him. And he will help us when we need him.
Now to the “golden rule.” What I find interesting about this verse is the end. “this sums up the law and the prophets.” Meaning that all of the teachings that we read about how to live and how to act in our short life on this earth equate to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” There’s no “or else.” No mention of punishment or reward. No rules or stipulations. Simply do what is right because it’s right and you will be following all of the “rules” or teachings that have been set in the word.