Imagine If
Robert Oakley (U.S Army (ret)
02/10/2026
Imagine if the golden rule could be turned into currency? In order to earn money all of us would have to treat someone else well. This treatment must not be superficial but genuine. We could not think to ourselves, “I’m hungry and have no money so I’ll wash my neighbor’s car to earn money for dinner.” This type of activity would be considered serving yourself not someone else. To actually serve your neighbor you would have to notice that his car is dirty and think “he would enjoy a clean car.” Then wash it without him even knowing that you did it as described in Matthew 6:1. Personal gain would not enter your thoughts because this is a life style. This is Kingdom thinking, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25, NLT)
Understanding this concept allows us to be free to create and serve and work without reservation. Prospering and advancing has a slightly different definition because the goal shifts from climbing the corporate ladder to doing our best in all situations as stated in Colossians 3:23. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” When we understand that everything comes from God and nothing comes from us then we can work for God. Our boss does not promote us God does (Romans 13:1), we do not provide for ourselves God is our provider (Luke 12:24), we do not create our own strength and hope God gives us strength when we put our hope in Him (Isaiah 40:31).
God created each of us for a specific purpose when we lose sight of this fact we also lose sight of God. Some of us were created to lead, others to serve, others to teach. Those created to serve will find the most satisfaction with serving. Our world thinks that we all are equal in our abilities and that everyone wins at everything that they try to do. While all should serve at times we all are not servants and those that were not created to be a servant will have difficulty becoming a great servant just as much as a servant will have great difficulty becoming a leader. A leader would be just as much damage to those he should be leading if he decided to serve rather than lead as a servant would be damaging those he should be serving if he were to attempt to lead them. Both of these positions are necessary for any organization to work. A task of having a dinner party at your house requires both of these positions. When they both are not filled then the party fails. Imagine going to dinner and the table was set and the food prepared and the guests all waiting around. Who is responsible for seating the guests and letting them know that the meal is ready to eat? Who decides the order that the guests receive their food? The servants are too busy serving to do this there must be a leader that takes on this responsibility. This doesn’t mean that the servant is less than the leader it means that each of us has a responsibility and we should carry out this responsibility the very best that we can. When we do this we are fulfilling the greatest command and the second command. (Matthew 22:37-39)
Imagine if we could all remember God’s promises and act on them at all times. We would be working to build our treasure in heaven where it will last for all of eternity. We will not worry about tomorrow because God has told us that we are more valuable than the birds of the air and if He can take care of them then how much more will he take care of us. (Matthew 6:26) We will understand that generosity toward others is returned in greater measure than what we have given and this does not just include treasures but attitude as well. The inverse of this is true too, when we withhold something that we should be giving then we will lose everything that we hope to gain by holding back. “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:24-25, NLT)
How have you been generous today?