Another Kind of Compass

The Scout's tool for finding his way is his compass. We have another tool that helps us to find our way, another kind of a compass. Can anyone tell me what it is? It does not have 360 points, but just twelve. (pause for answer.) That's right, it's the Scout Law.

Long before the Scout Law was developed, there was another law in operation, God's law, with 10 points, The Ten Commandments. The first three Commandments deal with our duty to God, on the last seven tell us of our duty to other people.

God's law is summarized in the New Testament like this: “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” This covers the first three commandments. The other seven are summarized like this: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” What is the name we usually give to this part of the law? (pause for answer.)  The golden rule, that’s right.

Have you ever thought how wonderful life would be if we all lived by the Golden Rule? No more quarreling, no crime, no wars! That's the truth! There isn't a single situation in human relationships that isn't covered by the Golden Rule. All the conflicts among people and among nations would end if the golden rule was used. 

I recommend the Golden Rule to you as an aid in finding your way through life. Measuring every problem and every situation by it -- your relationship with your family, with your schoolmates, with your brother Scouts, with me -- and you will find it covers every single one! It's the best compass I know.