The Golden Rule by Albert Weeks

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1872

The Golden Rule.

By Albert Weeks

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31.

AS RELATES TO our duty to our fellow-man this precept is every way worthy of the title of superiority given to it. How sufficient would this rule be if we would regulate all our conduct toward others by it. How admirably adapted to meet a want, and yet how loth is man to have that want supplied. How can self take the background?

In all our deal with man the golden rule should have a hearing; but especially is it valuable where there is not a ready comprehension of duty. What would be my mind if circumstances were reversed? is a question that should be at hand for ready use in this age of selfishness, when it seems to be a settled principle to get all you can, let it disadvantage your neighbor never so much.

This rule not only relates to that wherein there is a loss or gain of property involved, but it is to have an application to all circumstances wherein two or more are interested. There is no transgression of the last six commandments of the decalogue that is not comprehended in the principle here given. The least injustice toward those with whom we have to do is a violation of the golden rule. How necessary, then, that we should have it as a “frontlet between our eyes,” having it continually before our vision as a reminder of that much-neglected duty, doing to others as we would have them do to us.

ALBERT WEEKS.