Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Part 18
Treating Others the way you want to be treated
Pm March 1st 2009
Matthew 7:12
Introduction
How many of you have heard of JC Penney? When he was a child, his dad shared with him our verse for tonight he said, “Son, if you follow this Golden Rule, you’ll live a great life for the Lord, and God will take care of you.”
That sermon left a lasting impression on Penney’s life. Years later, he started a chain of stores across the country. And he based his whole business philosophy on this verse. He treated his customers and his associates the way he would want to be treated, and God blessed the business, and now there are more than 1000 JC Penney’s all over the country.
The same verse which empowered the life of JC Penney can empower the lives of believers today. I want to share three ways that the Golden Rule applies to our lives.
Read Scriptures: Matthew 7:12
I. It means that we should serve others the way we would want to be served.
Vs. 12 “Do unto others”
If you were the owner of your own company, how many of you would want your workers to work as hard as they could? How many of you would want them to maintain a positive attitude toward others, even when things get hectic?"
If that’s the way you would want to be treated if you were the boss, then that’s the way you should treat your CURRENT boss! Living out the truth of this Bible verse revolutionizes the way you do your job! You’re not just doing the bare minimum so that you can collect a paycheck. You’re living your life the way Jesus wants you to live it! You’re serving others the way YOU would want to be served! 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!”
You say, “that’s not realistic! That’s not the way most supervisors act! That’s not the way most PEOPLE act!” You’re right! People are selfish by nature.
We don’t want to practice the golden rule on other people because it’s a lot more fun when they practice the golden rule on us! It’s a lot more fun when people say “Here, let me help you with that! What can I do to make you more comfortable? What can I do to be a blessing in your life?” That’s why I like going to hotels when I’m on vacation. People are bending over backwards to serve ME! It feels good!
And sometimes that’s all right. But Jesus says in Mark 10:44 that “If you want to be great in the eyes of the Lord, then YOU need to be the one who serves! YOU need to be the one who is an instrument of God’s blessing! Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Treating people the way you want to be treated fulfills the will of God.
II. The Golden Rule means that we should forgive others the way you would want to be forgiven.
Vs. 12 “Do unto others”
How many of you have ever said, “Oh, I wish she would give me another chance! I wish she would realize how sorry I am for what I said! I wish she could forgive me.”
If you’ve ever wanted to be forgiven, then you should have empathy for the people in YOUR life who need forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Billy Graham had a weekly newspaper column in his local Montreat, N.C. Newspaper, where he answers questions that people send him. One person wrote and said, “My dad is dying, and he wants to see me one more time. But he abandoned me when I was a kid. Why should I go and see him now?”
And Dr. Graham said, “What your father did was very hurtful, and I can understand why you wouldn’t want to go.
“But put yourself in his shoes. If you messed up your relationship with your family, wouldn’t you pray for one more chance to make things right before you died? Wouldn’t you want one last opportunity to say “I’m sorry?” Wouldn’t you want one last chance to be a blessing?”
And then Billy Graham said, “This isn’t just about your dad’s need for forgiveness. This is about your willingness to extend forgiveness. When you give your heart to Jesus, God gives you the ability to forgive the hurts of the past. God gives you the ability to love people that you could never love on your own.”
It’s not something we can do in our own strength. But with the help of Almighty God, we can forgive others the way we would want to be forgiven.
III. The Golden Rule means that we should show love for others the way we would want to be loved.
Vs. 12 “Do unto others”
So this verse revolutionizes the way we love others. It challenges us to put the interests of others ahead of our own interests.
That’s what the Golden Rule is all about. And Jesus says if you live your life like this, you are fulfilling the will of God. You are living out the essence of the Old Testament.
We see the same truth in other parts of the Bible. In Romans chapter 13, Paul is talking about our relationships with one another. And beginning in verse eight he says “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, “treating others the way you want to be treated fulfills the will of God.”
Conclusion
The Golden Rule is all about loving and serving others with the same sacrificial love that God has for us. Ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. Then practice the Golden Rule in the lives of others.
(Thanks sermoncentral contributor, Preacher’s outline and sermon bible)
