So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. – Matthew 7:12
When you think of “overflow” what comes to mind? Water pouring from an overfull sink onto the floor? Or maybe milk streaming over the top of the glass and onto the table? When something is overfilled, the contents spill onto and upon everything in the vicinity. Overflow goes somewhere.
The “Golden Rule,” found in the Bible is more than an elementary rule of conduct, Jesus was teaching much more than a backward “this-for-that” kind of social economy. He was actually encouraging His followers to allow the Spirit of God to move through their lives so abundantly that it overflows, onto everyone in the surrounding area.
The Apostle Paul illustrates “For we share abundantly in Christ’s suffering, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for our comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same suffering that we suffer.” Simply put, as followers of Christ, you are in this life journey together. You pull one another along by meeting each other’s needs. You support a friend one day, knowing you may be the one in need the next. And as the world watches this beautiful economy of grace in action, people will be attracted to the Kingdom of God.
Put this economy into action today. Embrace an attitude of overflowing blessing toward others and ready yourself to be blessed when you need it the most. Ask that America as a nation will stand first on the economy of God, becoming a testimony of grace to a watching world.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 7:12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-12
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
