The Flip Side

August 29

There is a ‘flip side’ to every coin. There are pros and cons to every endeavor. By taking the most expeditious route on a trip, for example, the traveler could miss some beautiful scenery. By resolving to climb the corporate ladder at a rapid pace, a young executive might rob himself of satisfaction in personal relationships.

So we weigh our options and select those that seem most conducive to the achievement of our highest goals. This is true in the spiritual realm as well as in every other area of life. We know that a believer is expected to, “Study to show yourself approved of the Lord, rightly dividing the word of truth,” II Timothy 2:15.

Part of what we discover when we study the Word is that the Lord considers generosity to be a fundamental aspect of our lives as espousers of His truth. Many examples of His affirmation of this expectation can be found in the Word. Proverbs 22:9, for example, says, “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:3, 4, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…then your Father…will reward you.” So, just who is to be the recipient of our secret benevolence?

Our generosity must extend beyond those close to us or those served by our donations to our church or other worthy organizations. Proverbs 25:21 says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” So we weigh our options. What do we gain by incorporating this philosophy of giving into our personal lives? Proverbs 28:27 gives us the answer, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” If we are to please Jesus, we must conclude that blessings are the flip side to a generous heart.