Have you ever seen two canines meet for the first time? They have an interesting ritual. The first thing they do is to sniff around the body of one another. That immediately tells each of them something about the gender and age of the other. Then, each dog will make a fast decision as to whether the other is likely to be a friend to whom to extend patient tolerance (for example, if it’s a harmless young puppy)—or a rival that could possibly end up as a potential threat (such as a canine of the same gender and approximate age). One dog will then quickly observe the disposition of the other to see whether the other “turns the cheek” and allows this simple act of canine courtesy to take place. If the other refuses to turn the cheek, it’s quite likely that a nasty confrontation is brewing, ready to display itself within a matter of seconds. The sad thing is that because of the sin problem existing on our fallen planet, dogs tend to be quite competitive.

Suppose you’ve just met someone for the first time—maybe within the church or from the public at large. Either way, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? . . . Is it ever something like:

“How can I be the ‘alpha’ figure in this relationship? How can I get this person to look up to me and respect me and my accomplishments in life?”

If so—and you are a Christian, believe it or not, there may be a serious attitude issue brewing here—an attitude that needs to be adjusted. Why?

“The Jews had been concerned about what they should receive; the burden of their anxiety was to secure what they thought their due of power and respect and service.”1

This statement is not generalizing about all Jewish people in general—rather it is specifically referring to the typical Jews in Christ’s day—the most religious people in the world, solemnly entrusted with the sacred oracles of God.

The statement goes on to say, “But Christ teaches that our anxiety should not be, How much are we to receive? but, How much can we give?” 2

So, there’s a sharp contrast here. Jesus says that we should not be like those Jews were. Therefore, all that we might feel inclined to hope for from our interaction with someone—whether it be financial gain, admiration, or any other benefit—is not to be the aim in our relationship with that other person. Instead, it should be focused on how we can benefit him or her.

“In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is the true rule of honesty. It is another expression of the law. ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’ (Matthew 22:39). And it is the substance of the teaching of the prophets. It is a principle of heaven, and will be developed in all who are fitted for its holy companionship.”3

So, if we lack this principle of heaven that we are told will be (i.e., must be—not an optional might be) developed in those preparing for heaven, then we are missing the boat, so to speak.

Thankfully, we have been provided with the life of Jesus to be our example. What do we see in Him?

“Oh, what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary feet.

“No man who has the true ideal of what constitutes a perfect character will fail to manifest the sympathy and tenderness of Christ. The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings.”4

This is the first aspect of the golden rule as taught by Christ. There’s more. The passage continues—

“But there is a yet deeper significance to the golden rule. Everyone who has been made a steward of the manifold grace of God is called upon to impart to souls in ignorance and darkness, even as, were he in their place, he would desire them to impart to him. The apostle Paul said, ‘I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise’ (Romans 1:14). By all that you have known of the love of God, by all that you have received of the rich gifts of His grace above the most benighted and degraded soul upon the earth are you in debt to that soul to impart these gifts unto him. . . .

“The golden rule teaches, by implication, the same truth which is taught elsewhere in the Sermon on the Mount, that ‘with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again’ (Matthew 7:2). That which we do to others, whether it be good or evil, will surely react upon ourselves, in blessing or in cursing. Whatever we give, we shall receive again. The earthly blessings which we impart to others may be, and often are, repaid in kind. What we give does, in time of need, often come back to us in fourfold measure in the coin of the realm. But, besides this, all gifts are repaid, even in this life, in the fuller inflowing of His love, which is the sum of all heaven’s glory and its treasure. And evil imparted also returns again. Everyone who has been free to condemn or discourage, will in his own experience be brought over the ground where he has caused others to pass; he will feel what they have suffered because of his want of sympathy and tenderness.”5

According to the inspired passage above, “the coin of the realm” often pays dividends of 400% interest, payable exactly when you’re facing your toughest times! This currency is rather like that “gold tried in the fire” which we, as Christian believers living in the Laodicean era, are to be buying (Revelation 3:17, 18).

“The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only this can bring us into harmony with God. We may be active, we may do much work; but without love, such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of heaven.”6

“Not all can make large offerings, not all can do great works, magnificent deeds; but all can practice self-denial, all can reveal the unselfishness of the Saviour.”7

In shaky economic times, many urge the benefit of investing in gold and silver. Yet the time will soon come when many “shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity” (Ezekiel 7:19).

So, often the question is asked—What is the safest financial investment today? If we’re really living by the golden rule the way Christ describes it, we’ll have a totally different focus than did the professedly religious people of His day:

“Would you make your property secure? Place it in the hand that bears the nailprint of the crucifixion. Retain it in your possession, and it will be to your eternal loss.”8

“Time is short; hoarded wealth will soon be worthless. When the decree shall go forth that none shall buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast, very much means will be of no avail. God calls for us now to do all in our power to send forth the warning to the world.

“We want the brethren to awake to the service of their Master in this missionary work. Let them not set their hearts upon their possessions, and hold them with a miserly grip; but invest their means and use their influence to promote the cause of God, thereby sending treasure to Heaven before them. Love of the world is a great hindrance to a Christian life. It strengthens its hold upon the heart almost imperceptibly, and eclipses the value of Heaven and the virtue of the atonement, in the mind. It supersedes the love of God and His truth, and becomes the very root of all evil. . . .

“[Many] have cherished the love of money till it has become an all-absorbing passion, and Heaven does not seem as valuable to them as their present earthly treasure. How can they keep the commandments as God requires them to be kept, yet place two-thirds of their affections upon the world? Such a life dishonors our holy faith. . . .

“It was not pleasant for Christ to leave the purity and bliss of Heaven, and the society of holy angels, and come to a world all seared and marred by the curse of sin, and die to save fallen man from the consequences of his iniquity. Are we willing to imitate the life and character of Christ? Are we willing to suffer, if need be, for His sake, to forego some of the comforts of life in order to save our perishing fellow-creatures from eternal death? If so, we should be willing to give much from our abundance toward this purpose.

“What a fearful mistake that young ruler made when he turned from the requirements of Christ and decided to risk the consequence of being guided by his avaricious spirit. He chose to devote his life to gaining temporal wealth and power, rather than to follow Christ and resign his worldly possessions. Jesus pitied the young man; he saw in him precious material for a preacher of righteousness, if he would but overcome his selfish greed for gain. . . . [Matthew 19:21 quoted.]

“Jesus only required him to go where He led the way. The thorny path of duty becomes easier to follow when we trace His divine footsteps before us, pressing down the briers. Christ would have accepted this talented and noble ruler, if he had yielded to His requirements, as readily as He accepted the poor fishermen whom He bade to follow him. The young man’s ability to acquire property was not against him, provided he loved his neighbor as himself, and had not wronged another in acquiring his riches. That very ability, had it been employed in the service of God in seeking to save souls from ruin, would have been acceptable to the divine Master, and he might have made a diligent and successful worker for Christ. But he refused the exalted privilege of cooperating with Christ in the salvation of souls; he turned away from the glorious treasure promised him in the kingdom of God, and clung to the fleeting treasures of earth.

“We fear this is the case with many who profess to keep the commandments of God. Love of gain has taken possession of their souls, and they refuse to answer the demands of God in applying their wealth to the spreading abroad of His truth to all tongues and all nations. Jesus touched the plague spot in the young ruler’s heart, which, if not healed, would destroy his soul. He showed him that he was not keeping the commandments of God, since he did not love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself. Jesus offered to make him His companion and a laborer in bringing souls into the kingdom of Heaven. The young man had wealth, education, position, and influence, and was therefore qualified to work intelligently and successfully for the Master. But his love of the world prevented him from accepting the invitation of Christ.

“The humble fishermen obeyed the call of Jesus and forsook all to follow Him. It may appear to some that it required little self-denial for them to do this, as their business was neither elevated nor lucrative; but it should be remembered that these men owned boats and nets, and obtained a good livelihood by their occupation. Also their life upon the water had its attractions, and it was a great sacrifice for them to leave the employment in which they had thus far spent their lives.

“The young ruler represents a large class who would be excellent Christians if there was no cross for them to lift, no humiliating burden for them to bear, no earthly advantages to resign, no sacrifice of property or feelings to make. Christ has entrusted to them capital of talents and means, and He expects corresponding returns. That which we possess is not our own but is to be employed in serving Him from whom we have received all we have. . . .

“Redeem the time while you are spared to work. All your good works cannot save you; but it is nevertheless impossible for you to be saved without good works. Every sacrifice made for Christ will be for your eternal gain.”9

“We are on the very verge of the time of trouble, and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before us. A power from beneath is leading men to war against Heaven. Human beings have confederated with satanic agencies to make void the law of God. The inhabitants of the world are fast becoming as the inhabitants of the world in Noah’s day, who were swept away by the Flood, and as the inhabitants of Sodom, who were consumed by fire from heaven. The powers of Satan are at work to keep minds diverted from eternal realities. The enemy has arranged matters to suit his own purposes. Worldly business, sports, the fashions of the day—these things occupy the minds of men and women. Amusements and unprofitable reading spoil the judgment. In the broad road that leads to eternal ruin there walks a long procession. The world, filled with violence, reveling, and drunkenness, is converting the church. The law of God, the divine standard of righteousness, is declared to be of no effect.

“At this time—a time of overwhelming iniquity—a new life, coming from the Source of all life, is to take possession of those who have the love of God in their hearts, and they are to go forth to proclaim with power the message of a crucified and risen Saviour. They are to put forth earnest, untiring efforts to save souls. Their example is to be such that it will have a telling influence for good on those around them. They are to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Intense earnestness should now take possession of us. Our slumbering energies should be aroused to untiring effort. Consecrated workers should go forth into the field clearing the King’s highway, and gaining victories in new places. My brother, my sister, is it nothing to you to know that every day souls are going down into the grave unwarned and unsaved, ignorant of their need of eternal life and of the atonement made for them by the Saviour? Is it nothing to you that soon the world is to meet Jehovah over His broken law? Heavenly angels marvel that those who for so many years have had the light, have not carried the torch of truth into the dark places of the earth. . . .

“We talk of Christian missions. The sound of our voices is heard, but do we feel Christ’s tender heart-longing for souls?

“The Saviour was an untiring worker. He did not measure His work by hours. His time, His heart, His strength, were given to labor for the benefit of humanity. Entire days were devoted to labor, and entire nights were spent in prayer, that He might be braced to meet the wily foe in all his deceptive working, and fortified to do His work of uplifting and restoring humanity. . . .

“The Lord calls for wholehearted-ness. We all know that the sin of many professing Christians is that they lack the courage and energy to bring themselves and those connected with them up to the standard. . . .

“Heavenly angels have long been waiting for human agents—the members of the church—to cooperate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you.”10

Speaking of the angels: “They never do each other wrong. Princes of heaven, the potentates of this mighty realm, are rivals only in good, seeking the happiness and joy of each other. The greatest there is least in self-esteem, and the least is greatest in his gratitude and wealth of love.”11

Shall we not echo their zeal to invest wholeheartedly in the coin of the realm? It’s not too late to begin!