Daily Worship

In the enjoyment of others, we find our enjoyment

John Povey July 19, 2025 2 1
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Matthew 7: 9-12 (NIVUK)

9 ‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

It has been called the Golden Rule. “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” That is the traditional version, often quoted just like that. But in reality it should not be left to stand alone. And this is why. On its own the reason for the rule is forgotten.

If we put God back into the Golden Rule, we see that it is not a bland piece of moral advice intended to improve us. Rather, it stems from what Jesus said leading up to to this Golden Rule. God is our loving Father and always gives good things to those who ask.  Therefore, because God is so generous to us, we are to be lavishly generous to others.  The Golden Rule is a glorious overflow.

Many have taught a negative version of the Golden Rule, saying, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” The problem with that is that it could be obeyed by simply doing nothing. The Golden Rule that Jesus gave is active, creative, outgoing, and ongoing.

To do for others what you would have them do for you has no upper limit beyond our desire and imagination. One of the distinctive marks of followers of Jesus is that they regularly go much further than others expect. That is what happens when love overflows! When we see the enjoyment of other people, we can’t help but be glad and joyful too! It all comes full circle. Experiencing the joy and generosity of God, it overflows and reaches out to others, whose joy in turn gladdens us all the more, and returns in praise to God!

 

Prayer:

 

Loving Father, when we encounter Your love we can’t help but have our hearts transformed. Help me to see others as You see them, as people made in Your image. Help me to love others today with the flowing river of Your love, which has always enough and to spare. Amen.