Practicing the Golden Rule: Where's the Payback?
Bob Larranaga
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Luke 6: 31)
All the world’s major religions teach variations of the Golden Rule. It is a fundamental principle underpinning the conduct of civil society. In the Jewish religion, the Golden Rule is taken one step further when someone performs “mitzvah” – a good deed done without expectation of receiving anything in return. There is no suggestion of reciprocity or parity between the giver and receiver. In earthly terms, a mitzvah is a sacrifice, an act of pure altruism, which is of no immediate benefit to the giver.There is no payback. But, when viewed from God's perspective, such an altruistic act is an investment that pays everlasting dividends. The Good Samaritan performed mitzvah when he helped his enemy.
This application of the Golden Rule is consistent with what Jesus preached to His followers.
Read other Recent Posts on stewardship and add a comment.
Breaking Bread Together
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26: 26)
Bread is such a basic staple of life that it is the foundation of the food pyramid. We need it for our daily sustenance. Fresh-baked bread is nothing more than a little flour, yeast, salt, sugar, oil and milk. It's simplicity itself. Yet, it is wholesome and nutritious and fills the home with a delicate, yeasty aroma. Jesus described Himself as the "Bread of Life," and in the breaking of the bread, He showed us that we, too, must be willing to give what we have to others. But bread won't keep for long; you have to bake some almost every day. What do you have to share today?
New Overdraft Rules for Debit Cards and ATM Cards
Debit cards and ATM cards combine purchasing power with shopping convenience. But many consumers have been hit by high transaction fees when they have overdrawn their accounts.
Under the latest in a series of regulatory ruling by the Federal Reserve Board, your bank must now get your permission to apply its standard overdraft fees to debit card and ATM transactions . . . "New Debit Card Rules" continues.
The Painless Guide to Switching Checking Accounts
Author: Debra Dragon
The thought of trying to move your money and automatically scheduled bill payments from one checking account to another is often enough to prevent people from changing checking accounts. It may be easier to just stick with what you've got, but if you want to maximize your earnings or benefit from features offered through another banking institution, you'll have to be willing to do a little legwork to switch your money and . . . "Switching Checking." continues.
Choosing Checking Accounts with the Lowest Bank Fees
By: Debra Dragon
Banks make most of their money through convenience fees charged to customers. When you are in the market for a new checking account or want to move to a new bank, there are a number of things you should take into consideration before selecting the bank to open your checking account with . . . "Choosing Checking Accounts" continues.
Tips for Managing Your Checking Account
By: Sherry Tingley
Copyright (c) 2009 Sherry Tingley
There are five things you can do to manage your checking account. Some of these steps are very easy to do and others some people never do because they are careless record keepers.The first step is to choose a bank that you like. Go to the various banks and credit unions and ask them about the different kinds of checking accounts that they offer to their clients. The most important question you might ask is about all the fees that go with the account . . . "Managing Checking" continues.
Debit cards and ATM cards combine purchasing power with shopping convenience. But many consumers have been hit by high transaction fees when they have overdrawn their accounts.
Under the latest in a series of regulatory ruling by the Federal Reserve Board, your bank must now get your permission to apply its standard overdraft fees to debit card and ATM transactions . . . "New Debit Card Rules" continues.
The Painless Guide to Switching Checking Accounts
Author: Debra Dragon
The thought of trying to move your money and automatically scheduled bill payments from one checking account to another is often enough to prevent people from changing checking accounts. It may be easier to just stick with what you've got, but if you want to maximize your earnings or benefit from features offered through another banking institution, you'll have to be willing to do a little legwork to switch your money and . . . "Switching Checking." continues.
Choosing Checking Accounts with the Lowest Bank Fees
Banks make most of their money through convenience fees charged to customers. When you are in the market for a new checking account or want to move to a new bank, there are a number of things you should take into consideration before selecting the bank to open your checking account with . . . "Choosing Checking Accounts" continues.
Tips for Managing Your Checking Account
By: Sherry Tingley
Copyright (c) 2009 Sherry Tingley
There are five things you can do to manage your checking account. Some of these steps are very easy to do and others some people never do because they are careless record keepers.The first step is to choose a bank that you like. Go to the various banks and credit unions and ask them about the different kinds of checking accounts that they offer to their clients. The most important question you might ask is about all the fees that go with the account . . . "Managing Checking" continues.
Rule of
Thumb
Thumb
To see how fast your savings will double, use the Rule of 72. Just divide the interest rate into 72; e.g., at 3 percent, savings double in 24 years.
“All plenty which is not my God is poverty to me." (St. Augustine)