The truth that matters

Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

Let me remind you that we live in a time when truth is hard to come by. For instance, there are countless sources of information available on television and on the internet that will tell you who and what was behind the events that shook the U.S. Capital this week. Every one of those sources is purporting to be the truth. But they are not all in agreement, so they can’t all be true. So how do you know?

A bigger question behind that might be, how much does it matter to us as followers of Christ to know who stormed the Capital?Jesus put truth within our grasp. He said that if we hold to His teaching then we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. So with that in mind, let’s look at these very famous words of Jesus which are central to His teaching. This is a key to His teaching because Jesus calls this particular statement a summary of all the law and the prophets. Follow this and you will automatically be following everything else. And in that, therefore, you will know the truth.

Here should be our conclusion to this, then: God is more concerned with how we treat the people around us than with us knowing who stormed the Capital. Keep these things in perspective. Don’t become so wrapped up into supposed truths, lies and theories that you lose sight of the truth that matters.

Holding to the teachings of Jesus is the truth that matters.

As followers of Christ, it matters little that truth is hard to come by in this current age. As followers of Christ truth is spelled out clearly in the teaching of Jesus and that is what He cares about us knowing and doing.

Knowing and doing. They both are important. Just knowing the truth is not enough. Doing it is the proof that we truly know it.

What’s the first word of the Golden rule — the verse we are looking at today? “Do.” “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.” That’s it. That’s the truth that counts. “Do for others.” What are you doing for those around you? There is too much knowing and speculating going on. What are you doing? That’s the real question.

What would I like my neighbors to be doing for me? That should get me going on what I could do for them. What would you like your family members and friends to be doing for you? Well there you go. That’s the truth that matters.