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The Golden Rule Demands More than We Think

The Golden Rule Demands More than We Think

Last updated on: October 16, 2026 at 9:29 am by Larry Jordan

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The Golden Rule Demands More than We Think 2026-10-16T09:29:35-05:00 Larry Jordan

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Everyone is related, and everything is connected. That sets a high standard for us. Many traditions, including Christianity, do NOT only concern us and our relationships with families and friends. Our relationships should NOT be transactional. So we should NOT only treat others as they treated us. And we should NOT only share a small portion of our abundance with others.

Many Christians make public displays of religiosity, but they do NOT take Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves so seriously. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, the vineyard owner pays workers the same amount, whether they worked all day or one hour. The owner maintains that he treated everyone fairly. He paid everyone what was agreed.

In the story of the rich young man, the man asks Jesus what he must do to be saved. Jesus is clear: “Sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” How many Christians actually do that? Why do many Catholics focus on attending Mass and receiving sacraments? Why do many Protestants focus on justification by faith?

Jesus tells another parable about a father who asked the two sons to work in the vineyard. One said that he would, but he did NOT. The other said that he would NOT, but he did. So Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” Are modern Christians who emphasize religious displays and affirmations of faith without helping others more like the first son or the second son?

Our relationships should NOT be transactional.

If you suffered in life and want other people to suffer as you did because 'you turned out fine,' you did NOT, in fact, turn out fine. Image by Gemini/AI-generated, in the public domain

If you suffered in life and want other people to suffer, too, because ‘you turned out fine,’ you did NOT, in fact, turn out fine. Image by Gemini/AI-generated, in the public domain

The Golden Rule

In The Way, I discuss two variations of the Golden Rule. Some people believe they do NOT need to help others more than others helped them. Others believe they need to help according to need. Our relationships should NOT be transactional. So if someone needs more help, they should receive more help.

Recently, I saw a meme that makes this point clearly: “If you suffered in life and want other people to suffer as you did because ‘you turned out fine,’ you did NOT, in fact, turn out fine.”

After 25 years in the finance business, I have a pretty nuanced view about issues like student loan forgiveness. On the one hand, I believe that people should repay their loans, and I repaid mine. On the other hand, I appreciate that forgiving loans can be the better business decision and the fairer thing to do.

If I repaid my loan and someone else did not, our lenders treated us differently. But was I treated unfairly? I signed a contract, and I honored it. They signed a contract, and the lender forgave it. To me, it was unfortunate my lender did not forgive my loan, but it was NOT unfair. Our circumstances were different.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the vineyard owner in the parable of the workers says, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”

Sadly, some conservative Christians mistake this parable as an endorsement of capitalism or as a recognition that the wealthy may do as they please.

The Rich Young Man

For 500 years, Catholics have believed (like James) that we are justified by faith and works, while Protestants have believed (like Paul) that we are justified by faith alone. But what did Jesus think? Jesus clearly addressed this question in the Gospel of Mark. He never mentioned justification by faith and works, or by faith alone. In fact, Jesus established a MUCH higher standard:

“Sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Our relationships should NOT be transactional.

The rich young man could NOT bring himself to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. I saw myself in that man, and I wondered whether my lifestyle was as important to me. (Remember that we live in a world where median earnings are less than $2 per day. For someone who lives in the United States in the 21st century, how much is “enough?”)

Eventually, I quit my job, sold my house, and followed Jesus (the man, NOT the God). Jesus’ words and works inspired me. I did NOT have any sense of religious duty or any hope in an afterlife. And I thought that my Catholic friends (who went to Mass every week) and my Protestant friends (who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior) chose MUCH easier and more limited paths.

Sometimes people ask me if I expect everyone to quit their jobs and sell their houses. I do NOT expect anyone to do anything, and I know that most people are unable or unwilling to do so anyway. But if we are living one interconnected life, we are living for others, NOT only for ourselves and NOT only for our family and friends.

Sadly, some conservative Christians mistake this commandment as a particular instruction to one greedy individual, NOT a general admonition.

Am I “A Good Christian?”

Sometimes, people tell me that I am “more Christian than most Christians,” even though I am NOT a Christian. I take it as a compliment. And I hope they mean that I love my neighbor as myself. Of course, I know being a good Christian and being a good person are NOT always the same thing. And NOT all good Christians are good people.

Sadly, since 2016, some “good Christians” have supported banning Muslims, building walls, marginalizing LGBTQ+ people, separating families, taking away people’s healthcare and waging wars. Are modern Christians who emphasize religious displays and affirmations of faith without helping others more like the first son or the second son in the parable of the two sons in the vineyard?

Are non-Christians who emphasize helping others, rather than religious displays or affirmations of faith, more like the first son or the second son?

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The Way received a 2024 Nautilus Book Award.

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I do NOT use AI in my writing. I write, review, and edit my own content.

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About Larry Jordan

Larry Jordan is a follower of Jesus with a Zen practice. He wrote “The Way,” informed by the Eastern religions, the mystics, and the quantum physicists. "The Way" won a 2024 Nautilus Book Award. You can read more about the author here.

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