Adventures in Odyssey Home Page

Isaac the Benevolent

Album: Gold Audio: The Lost Episodes

Episode: 116

Lesson/Theme: The Golden Rule.

Bible Verse: Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31

Characters: Lucy, Connie, Eugene, Whit

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: June 23, 1990

Last Air Date: June 11, 2008

Description:
Isaac the Benevolent is a remake of "Doing Unto Others," AIO episode #9. Isaac Morton replaces Johnny Bickle, Lucy Cunningham-Schultz replaces Linda, and Eugene replaces Officer David Harley. Whit is still Whit, and Connie is still Connie. Johnny Bickle knows the Bible. When Whit asks his sixth-grade Bible study group their memory verse, Johnny's hand always shoots up first. On this particular day, the verse happens to be Matthew 7:12, the Golden Rule. But Johnny is confused. He knows the verse says, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." But he doesn't know what kinds of things he should do or how he should do them. Class ends before Whit can explain this, and unfortunately, Johnny takes advice from the next adult he runs across-Officer Harley. After a confusing conversation, the two of them conclude that "doing unto others" means that whatever Johnny likes is what other people will like, too. He tries putting this into practice and has disastrous results. Later at Whit's End, he explains his problem to Connie. She says the true meaning of "doing unto others" is helping people without expecting anything in return. Connie suggests that Whit is the perfect candidate on whom Johnny can practice the Golden Rule. Connie reveals that Whit doesn't have a television. Johnny can't believe it. So with Connie's help, Johnny immediately rushes out to buy one for Whit. When they deliver the gift to Whit, though, Johnny and Connie learn that Whit doesn't have a television because he doesn't want one, not because he can't afford one. When Whit watches the tube, he turns into a TV junkie. Johnny is upset and begins to doubt whether "doing unto others" is even possible! But Whit quickly shows Johnny that following the Golden Rule is not only possible, it's the best way to live.

Questions:
What was wrong with the way Isaac thought we should "do unto others"? Why is the Golden Rule important? How can you apply the Golden Rule to your life?