How we live our lives has a great impact upon the state of our hearts. In the preceding devotional we considered the stability and blessing that come to a life that has learned to give generously and trust in the Lord’s provision. But material blessing and stable circumstances are not the only benefits of this just and trusting heart. Imagine a life that is free from the fear of bad news!! Most people live with an undercurrent of anxiety over the possibility that some misfortune is just around the corner. Many have tasted enough difficulties in life that they lived poised for the next blow, never fully relaxing into a place of rest. This doesn’t have to be. Psalm 112:5-8 provides us the assurance that if we have learned to walk justly in life and give generously to others we can enter a place of rest and peace.
The fact that we have no fear of bad news does not mean that bad news will never come. What this passage teaches us is that when we live with a generous heart and treat others fairly, we can rest knowing that if a time of hardship comes to touch our lives we will reap what we have sown in how others treat us with generosity and compassion during our times of need. Knowing we have sowed good seed in life enables us to rest in the knowledge that we will reap this same grace from the Lord through others and so we can have a heart that is not shaken by the storms of life.
Verse eight holds within it a comforting affirmation of what happens to this life: a secure heart, freedom from fear and final victory! Note that we are not told that there will be no battles. Notice that we are not told that there will never be a conflict in which we suffer loss. The great source of peace and comfort in this passage is the knowledge that in the end we will “look in triumph” on our foes. The final outcome of God’s dealings is a blessed life! Rest in that knowledge and live with generosity as you treat others justly and the fruit of this will be final victory in the outcome of your life!
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