I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19
“If a man has a great many tribulations and as a result he frequently turns to God and frequently experiences God’s liberation, surely even if he had a breast of iron or a heart of stone (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26), he must soften toward the generosity of the Redeemer and love God not only for his own benefit, but for himself?”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) in “On Loving God” in Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works translated by G.R. Evans (Classics of Western Spirituality; Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1987) 194.
Our human nature seeks to avoid tribulation, whereas numerous times in Scripture we are told to rejoice when we face trials. God does His best work on our worst days. Our culture also takes pride in our independence when God’s Word calls us to depend on God for both our provision and liberation in times of need.
What’s Bernard’s point today and what’s it got to do with generosity?
Bernard reminds us to love God not just because He showers benefits on us such as deliverance or daily bread, but because He saves us from ourselves and our stone hearts. In plain terms, love Him because He gives us the greatest benefits in the toughest times and His own generous heart.
Thank You Lord for giving us rich blessings, the best of all is Your generous heart!