Thursday, February 1, 2018

Being Golden


Being Golden

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard others as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own interests, but the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:2,4

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:12

            In Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, is a gold mine that no one has yet found.  It’s the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. The Dutchman, when he died, left some clues and riddles as to where the mine is located.  As far as anyone knows, no one has found the mine. Many have even lost their lives in search for this valuable gold mine. Gold is something that has value, but we too can have value to others. The Bible has many great pieces of advice that, if followed, will make us golden to others.
            First, we need to become selfless people.  Have you ever been around someone who only cares to do what they want?  People who are focused only on themselves push away others because we too have things we like to do.  When we focus on others we show that we care about them.  It doesn’t mean we have to only do what our friends want, but we need to care about what others care about.  Make sure though, that you are genuine about it because we can pick out the fake person too.  Attitude about it is important.
            Second, humility is important.  Humility is to know that we have faults and we need to have an attitude that shows that others are better than we are. What are your faults?  Do you know them?  We know that imperfection runs deep in everyone and so we have have to approach others with humility and love when talking to them about their faults.  We need to show them the love of Christ and show them the victory we have won in your own lives.  Jesus loved us and we should love them with that same love. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
            Finally, we are to look out for our interests too, but we need to do it in a way that also considers others.  In business and in life we may try to run over others in our race to the top or to get what we want, hurting those around us along the way.  Getting ahead in business and life is not a problem, but how we get there can be. True leadership is the ability to gain followers.  Leaders are better than bosses because a leader has them following because they want to follow. A boss you follow because you have too in order to keep your job. When we make friends, and help others along life’s pathway we gain friends, followers, and helpers when life can be hard on us.  Even though the world says get what you want fast, sometimes the long way to get what we want, might be the right way. We need to seek to lead like Jesus in every area of our lives.

            The golden rule found in Matthew 7:12 is still being taught to children today: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.”  This rule should still apply to everyone young and old today.   How you want to be treated should be reflected in how you treat others. If you want to be a person of great value, treat others as if they have great value.  When I go shopping I love to go to places that show great customer service.  I want the places I spend my money to value me and take care of me. Though sometime I don't get treated with value I can still treat those there with the value I want to be treated.  We may never find the Lost Dutchman’s mine, but we can be people worth more than his gold mine, or any gold mine is. 

All Scripture is from The New American Standard Bible copy write 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA

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