The “What Goes Around, Comes Around" of the Bible

Most of us have heard the old saying,  “What goes around, comes around." We see it in movies, we talk about it when someone finally gets what they deserve, and we feel it in our gut when we know we’ve done something wrong.  But did you know that this isn't just a catchy phrase? It’s actually a rock-solid principle found throughout the entire Bible.

When we talk about the  “Measure of Judgment," we are really talking about the way God balances the scales of life.  He isn't a judge who just throws the book at people randomly; He is a God who uses a very specific  “measuring cup" to decide how to respond to the things we do.
 

• Think of it like this: Imagine you’re at a grocery store, and you’re weighing out fruit on a scale.  If you put two pounds of apples on the scale, you expect to pay for exactly two pounds—no more, and no less.  That is how God’s justice works.  In the Bible, God tells us that He sees everything—not just the big things we do in public, but the small things we do when no one is looking, and even the thoughts we keep to ourselves.  He uses a  “divine yardstick" to make sure that the consequences of our lives match up perfectly with the choices we made.  It’s the ultimate fair system.
   

• This concept is actually really important for our everyday lives because it changes how we treat the people around us.  The Bible warns us that the  “measuring stick" we use on our neighbor, our coworker, or even that person who cut us off in traffic, is the exact same stick God is going to use on us.  If we use a stick of harshness and finger-pointing, that’s what we’ll see coming back our way.  But if we use a stick of mercy and kindness, God promises to use that same generous measure for us.

As you look through the verses below, you’ll see that God’s judgment isn't about being mean or  “getting even." It’s about a harvest.  Just like a farmer who plants corn doesn't expect to wake up and find a field of watermelons, we shouldn't be surprised when our actions produce a specific result. 

Whether it’s how we handle our money, how we talk to our families, or how we treat the "least" among us, every bit of it is being measured.  This article is here to help you understand those measurements so you can live a life that you’ll be proud of when the final tally is made.

 

Biblical Verses on the Measure of Judgment

The Bottom Line

"The Mirror Rule: 
Matthew 7:2  "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use...

"The Heart Scan:
Jeremiah 17:10  "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct... You get back the same attitude you give out.
 
The Farmer's Law: 
Galatians 6:7  "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows." God looks at why you did it, not just what you did.

"The Talent Tax: 
Luke 12:48  "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be required... You can't plant  “bad" and expect to harvest  “good."

The Final Review: 
2 Corinthians 5:10  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us..." The more you have, the more God expects you to do with it.

The Boomerang: 
Obadiah 1:15  "As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head." One day, we all sit down for a performance review of our life. Bad actions have a way of coming back to the person who started them.


The Personal Reflection (Call to Action)

How are you measuring your life? Knowing that God sees every action and every intent of the heart can feel overwhelming, but it is actually an invitation to live with purpose.  Today, take a moment to look at the "scales" in your own life. Are you extending the same mercy to others that you hope to receive?  Are you sowing the kind of seeds you want to harvest tomorrow?

Challenge:  Pick one area this week—whether it’s how you speak to a coworker or how you handle a small frustration—and use a "measure" of extra grace.  You might be surprised at how it returns to you.

 

The Closing Prayer

A Prayer for Balanced Living

Heavenly Father, we thank You and know that You are a God of perfect justice and perfect mercy.  We confess that we often use a harsh measure for others while asking for a generous one for ourselves.  Please help us to live with the 'long view' of eternity in mind.  Teach us to sow seeds of kindness, integrity, and faith, trusting that Your scales are always fair.  May our lives reflect Your character, and may we find peace in knowing that Your judgments are true.  Amen.

Summary

• Whether you choose the reflection or the prayer (or both!), this gives you a "bridge" from the biblical facts to your daily reality. 

• It turns a study on judgment into a study on how to live a better, more Christ-like life.  At the end of the day, God’s “measure of judgment" is all about fairness. 

• It tells us that our lives matter and that our choices have real weight and consequences. 

• It’s a reminder that we are in the driver's seat of our own future based on how we treat people today. 

• While the future is in God's hands, how we experience that future depends a lot on the “measure" we choose to live by right now.

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