Luke 6:31

Do unto others as you would have them do to you

Sounds easy enough, but there are serious ethical problems with the idea.

For one thing, not everyone has the same values, so actually what’s being said is

Do unto others as they, assuming they’re following Christian ethics, would have done to you.

But then again, even not all Christians are the same, though. Some, for instance, fear entertainment, while others overlook it as entertainment not to be taken seriously.

Now, another problem is it’s obviously not carried out because so many so-called Christians are narcissistic and have a childish, selfish view of morality.  In fact, in reality they believe in love, only when doesn’t conflict with their greed, their biased legal views etc

1 John 4:16 –

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

We can’t expect everyone to love us (nor would we want it), but when certain people don’t, it can be quite crushing.  In fact, just as with some street gang, respect is everything, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

But how can we try our best to maintain the respect?  We can do so by living faithfully for God.

Many people have a plan, until unexpected pressure creates a different situation, and what do we do then?  Well, the Bible gives hope as following God can be a rock against instability.

Matthew 7:24-27

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Luke 17:21

“The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Some might always visualize God’s world as somewhere else, but what if it’s more a reality present wherever people are truly serving God?

And to continue on the idea, many get the idea of after-life heaven as some clouds or something, but what if it’s simply like the Earth, only difference being so much suffering removed, due to the strong presence of God?

• Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
• Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
• James 4:6: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”
• Galatians 6:4: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else…”
• Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…”

It’s easy to see where pride comes from.  I mean, some people don’t like being rejected from job applications, romance, job promotions, talent contests.  Some people don’t like being divorced, fired from jobs, told they’re ugly (usually a subjective thing), dumped, told they aren’t good at something.

So, in this case, we see that pride isn’t just about some guy like Gordon Gecko on the movie Wall Street, or even Satan, himself.  It’s something that affects everyone.

But what is the remedy for pride?   Well, the remedy is walking in the light, where your life is truly being lived for God.

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

And what are disasters that can come your way because of rejecting God’s help in the matter? Some of the verses at the top of this post clearly state the consequences.

One big help is simply seeking God before other stuff in your daily routine (as much as possible).  I find it improves my mood quite a bit.

Matt 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

But how can we do this?  Well, you have to want to do it.  It’s as simple as that.  You have to make the effort to pray, meditate on God’s word, whatever it takes to get the mind focused on God.

And what is getting in the way?  Well, the love of the world is a big problem.  I mean, you either strongly love God or you don’t.

1 John 2:15-17

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

Mark 15:34

34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Psalm 22:1-8

I have made some negative posts about prosperity preachers, but I’m not totally against how they feel about things.  Well, I’m against greed and greedy preachers, but someone taking charge in their life, in a healthy way, is not greed.  In fact, it’s healthy and liberating, but that’s not saying that Jesus, himself, or the apostles (and many others) lived lives of poverty, perhaps to teach us a lesson.

Job 42:12

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.

Anyway, though, think about it.  Would you want to deprive yourself a better life, especially when it could expand to a better life for your family?

(Leviticus 25:18–22)

1“Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:

3You will be blessed in the city

and blessed in the country.

4The fruit of your womb will be blessed,

as well as the produce of your land

and the offspring of your livestock—

the calves of your herds

and the lambs of your flocks.

5Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed.

6You will be blessed when you come in

and blessed when you go out.

7The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.

8The LORD will decree a blessing on your barns and on everything to which you put your hand; the LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. 9The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

11The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

12The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

13The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today. 14Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.

Matthew 12:31-32

“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Some are worried about committing this seemingly unforgivable sin, and it is surely unforgivable, but only in this life, and the age to come (not counting ages after that).

Ephesians 2:7

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

And what is this sin?   Well, it’s the sin where the heart is so hardened to spiritual truth, that nothing can break thru.  It’s the sin many of the Pharisees and Sadducees committed.  It’s the reason Jesus literally called some of them “Children of the Devil”

Because, in retrospect, the sin is so heinous, forgiveness cannot be even seen in the next age.  And it’s obvious why as such people would need serious purification to see spiritual truth.

Isaiah – 14:12-17

12How you have fallen from heaven,

O day star,c son of the dawn!

You have been cut down to the ground,

O destroyer of nations.

13You said in your heart:

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God.

I will sit on the mount of assembly,

in the far reaches of the north.d

14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15But you will be brought down to Sheol,

to the lowest depths of the Pit.

16Those who see you will stare;

they will ponder your fate:

“Is this the man who shook the earth

and made the kingdoms tremble,

17who turned the world into a desert

and destroyed its cities,

who refused to let the captives

return to their homes?”

Why did Satan rebel against God and even convince 1/3 of the angels to join him?

Well, many people think it is pride, but what if my answer is correct, but I’m not claiming to know the truth on the matter.

Note, I think Satan’s big grudge against God stemmed from the fact he didn’t trust God’s creation, man, and honestly, many people couldn’t blame him.  I mean, let’s say Satan could have foreseen nuclear weapons and possible AI destruction. Given that fact, what could he say, other than man is a monster?