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Text Sermons : ~Other Speakers S-Z : Charles Stanley : The Golden Rule of Success

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Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12 NASB)

Since God wants us to succeed, He has given us a principle to govern our relationships: "Treat people the way you want them to treat you" (Matthew 7:12). Though simple, this standard requires divine strength to carry out because, as is usual with kingdom principles, it is contrary to the way we think.

Consider the values of generosity and forgiveness. God calls us to imitate Christ and be generous towards others; but when people take advantage of our generosity, we want to stop. Jesus told Peter that if someone repeatedly sins, we are to forgive every time. (Matthew 18:21-22) The Lord Himself forgave those who crucified Him. However, forgiveness does not humanly make sense when we are confronted with betrayal, unethical behavior, or someone who repeatedly wrongs us.

In light of the above principle, how are we to act? We are to set our attitude toward pleasing God. This involves putting aside our feelings about how the other person's behavior affects us and resolving to respond God's way—the way of faith. (Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 2:20) Submit to the control of the Holy Spirit. Refuse to allow "human thinking" to take charge. If the Spirit dominates our thinking, godly behavior will follow.

Scripture says we will reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7) If we are generous, God will show us generosity; if we forgive, the Lord will grant us forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12) The way we live—in both attitude and action—will determine if we are a success in God's eyes.







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