1 of 3 Simple Rules

On Wednesday evenings we have been studying Bishop Rueben Job's book Three Simple Rules. The rules are: Do no harm; do good; stay in love with God. They are a paraphrasing of Wesley's General Rules of Methodist Societies.
Bishop Job wrote: "To do no harm means that I will be on guard so that all my actions and even my silence will not add injury to another of God's children or to any part of God's creation" (pg 31). At first glance, this General Rule of the Methodist Society did indeed seem simple - do no harm. But after pondering the boundaries of the rule I realized that I must constantly be aware of my actions, words, and "even my silence" to keep from doing NO harm.
I have lived by the rules of conduct and generally accepted standards of our culture for so long that when I tried to abide by one simple rule I encountered challenge. I was not challenged so much by others but my own since of right or wrong. To obey and live by the rule means that I must learn to live by Jesus' standards rather than society's standards (which seem to change often).
Jesus' standards sometimes seem so contrary to our ways that we must seriously consider practicing what we read in the Gospels. For example, Jesus said, "... unless your righteousness surpasses that of the ... teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Now to be obedient to Jesus' standards, then I must be righteous in my actions.
Jesus also said, "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment [condemnation or damnation]" (Matthew 5:22). Woe to me because I have been angry many times, like when other drivers don't do what I think they should. Or like when the server at the fast food restaurant was rude. The rule is "DO NO HARM." It is not "do no harm unless somebody does it to you first." That is a challenge!
As Bishop Job wrote, "when I commit myself to this way, I must see each person as a child of God - a recipient of love ... undeserved - just like myself" (pg 31). Maybe, just maybe, as I try to do no harm, then I will live more and more like Jesus. That is my prayer.