“The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself for his deeds return to bless him, but he who is cruel and callous to the wants of others brings on himself retribution.” – Proverbs 11:17
Dear Brothers and Sisters. I’d like us to reflect on a law of nature. Not a law of physics like those our scientists are studying in their laboratories. But a law of the spirit. We live in a world that prizes the self-made man, the go-getter, and the one who climbs the ladder of success. But tonight, I want to talk to you about the true economy of the heart.
There is a rhythm to this life, established by the Divine, that dictates a simple truth: The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself, for his deeds return to bless him. But he who is cruel and callous to the wants of others, brings on himself retribution.
Consider, if you will, the man who lives with an open hand. When he sees a neighbor in need, perhaps a family struggling with a medical bill or a youth who has lost his way. He does not look the other way. He acts with the mercy of the Divine.
Now, some might say, “Isn’t that man losing something? Isn’t he giving away his own security?”
I tell you, the Divine has orchestrated a marvelous thing. Kindness is a boomerang. Kindness is peace of mind. The generous man sleeps soundly, his conscience as clear as a summer morning. When the winter of his own life arrives, he finds a community ready to wrap him in the same warmth he once provided. By showing mercy, he becomes a mirror for the light of the Divine, and that light warms his own house first.
But then, friends, we must look at the alternative. We all know the man who keeps his heart under lock and key. He is callous. Think of that word. A callus is skin that has become hard, thick, and unfeeling. The man who ignores the cry of the poor or treats his subordinates with cruelty thinks he is winning the game of life. He thinks he is protecting his interests. But he is actually building a prison. Retribution is not always a lightning bolt from the sky. Often it is the natural consequence of a life lived without love. The cruel man lives in isolation. He eventually finds himself in a room where the only company is his own bitterness. His heart is hardened. By refusing to feel for others, he loses the ability to feel the joy of the Divine for himself. You cannot sow seeds of thistles and expect to harvest wheat. If you plant indifference, you will reap a desert.
As we head back to our homes, let us remember that every interaction is a seed. When you choose to be the merciful man, you aren’t just doing a favor for your neighbor. You are performing a service for your own soul. You are aligning yourself with the generous nature of the Divine.
Do not let the world harden you. Do not let the pursuit of things make you callous to the people around you.
Open your hearts. Extend your hands. Watch how the blessings of the Divine find their way back to your doorstep.
Amen.
