“If You Take the Left, Then I Will Go to the Right”

“If You Take the Left, Then I Will Go to the Right”

Suffer joyfully the loss of things of lesser value when you can gain things of far greater value by doing so.

For example, if you can gain peace by losing some pennies or dollars, then it is a rewarding undertaking, for peace cannot be paid for with the goods of this world.

Let the others choose; let them do their will. You do God’s will. God’s will is to give instead of to demand. Say as Abraham did: “If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

It will always be for the common good. The other person will be only satisfied when he gets to do as he wants; you, on the other hand, are just as blessed because it doesn’t matter to you. For you it is even gain to give up your own will. You are benefiting from an exercise in godliness that will be to your advantage another time. The person who has exercised himself in giving up his own will has the best chance of enduring great trials.

The apostle says, “Exercise yourself rather to godliness . . . having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim. 4:7-8.

It is precisely in earthly things that we have opportunity to forsake our desire and will, our opinion and human reasoning. When it concerns the truth and mercy of the inner life—the things that have truly been revealed to us in this area—there we cannot give in because someone else wants us to, thinking that we should. There we must stand firm and unshakable in spirit and in truth.

Paul says that if my eating meat makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat. That was living in love for his neighbor’s benefit. What did the apostle lose by it? In this case he lost the momentary enjoyment of tasting various delicious kinds of meat. What did he gain by it? He gained his brother’s heart, his trust, and his confidence—so that he again could contribute to his eternal salvation and savor the fruits of it in the resurrection of the dead, even in this life and then throughout eternity.

What would you choose in such a case? Meat is good. Love is better. Let us hear Solomon’s word: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.” Prov. 15:17. “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.” Prov. 17:1. The nourishment that the body receives from meat can be had more cheaply from other foods. However, the nourishment that love gives to our spirit can absolutely not be replaced by any other nourishment. The nourishment that meat gives is temporary. Love nourishes us for our eternal benefit. Meat nourishes only the person who eats it. Love nourishes the person who eats it as well as others. Meat can be replaced, but not love.

This is only an example. This is how it is with all our will and desire for earthly things. The apostle says that we can do all things, but not all things are profitable or edifying. You can eat as much meat as you desire. However, that is not the central point. The central point is our own and other people’s salvation from sin.

Wisdom is willing to yield. Jas. 3:17. This is evident in the diversity of daily life. This is where it makes profitable business transactions. By selling one’s will in insignificant earthly things, one can gain incredibly great and eternal values, treasures, and delights in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy the treasures and where sickness and other corruptible things cannot put a dent in our delight.

What a curse it is that everyone wants to have his own opinion and will; how much argument and unrest it causes, how much vanity, how much waste of time, how much sin; for where there are many words, sin is not lacking. The more quickly one person forsakes everything of his own, the fewer words there will be about the matter, and the less sin.

Think if you by agreeing to a humanly speaking less reasonable suggestion (for example, in a financial matter) could prevent sin from happening! How much worse it is to sin than to lose a few pennies or dollars?

Righteousness (the opposite of sin) is worth so much more than money. Righteousness saves from death. Money doesn’t help. At best, I can acquire some earthly necessities with it, but I also risk losing my soul. On the other hand, righteousness is imperishable. Its work is eternal peace and joy and safety, and in addition follows everything we need for our body. That is added to us.

Choose today what kind of price you will put on following your own desires and human reasoning in daily life! Put a price on your own and others’ salvation today!

As far as I am concerned, I want to say this: No price is too high to pay for the truth, for salvation! Even a single penny is too much for everything that I own. It is—with all my desires and will, my opinions and human reasoning—worse than nothing.