May 18, 2020
The Golden Rule
“….do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Matthew 7:12
Last Friday J.C. Penney, the 118-year old department store, filed for bankruptcy protection. Some analysts say that the company lost its way in appealing to middle-class America with its emphasis on value and variety. But the store’s roots were grounded in treating its customers and employees with the utmost respect and service. The New York Times reported that J.C. Penney’s founder, John Cash Penney, invested in a dry-goods store in Kemmerer, Wyoming called “The Golden Rule” in 1902. He soon renamed it J.C. Penney, but was devoted to the notion of the Golden Rule, particularly how the company treated its workers and shared its profits with staff from its early days.
Today we hear many stories of employers looking out for their employees, exploring ways they can keep their people employed so they will have the resources to provide for their families. In this enormously difficult time of high unemployment, the prospect of it even reaching 20-25%, it is refreshing and inspirational to hear of those “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
“The Golden Rule” established by Christ in the New Testament continues to have a huge impact on the lives of individuals and families in great need. Let us practice it in our own personal lives, so we can reach others who are in need of care and assistance.
Prayer: Gracious God, help us to empathize with what others are going through so we can respond in a way that helps and provides for them. Amen.