Spirit Airlines made a decision a few months ago to charge up to $45 for carry on luggage on their flights. In an industry that is in terrible shape, this was a move that produced outrage in even those who have never flown with this carrier. For people already perturbed about the nearly industry-wide decision to charge for checked bags, this looks like just another way airlines were trying to squeeze money out of passengers. Despite this attempted grab at more of passengers' money, Spirit is struggling mightily, canceling flights and struggling to pay employees.
Meanwhile, Southwest continues to be the only major carrier not charging for those checked bags. They have widely advertised this decision. The end result of this policy is not surprising to me. While even some of their own insiders were wringing their hands about passing up over $750 million by not charging for checked bags, Southwest has earned $1.8 billion dollars instead. According to Harvard Business Review, Southwest has never lost money in 37 years of operation. The other major carriers are operating in the red, but Southwest continues to operate in the black while paying their employees relatively well. Amazingly, Southwest has not suffered from their lack of greed, but Spirit has suffered despite theirs.
There is a valuable lesson or pair of lessons to be learned by all of us from this. Those who keep their fists tight find it difficult to receive, while those who practice generosity often find that such a practice "pays." Biblical stewardship seems to work this way. Givers receive in good measure (Lk. 6:38; Mal. 3:10). When we are stingy with our time, our praise, our efforts, our involvement, or any other resource God has blessed us with, we are the poorer for it. Hoarding does not benefit the hoarder! Giving blesses the giver. The airlines teach us this, but before that God did the teaching. Through Solomon, He says, "There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand" (Ecc. 5:13-15). In Luke 12:15, warning against covetousness, Jesus taught that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Let us learn that we will not ultimately prosper who greedily seek after self, and God will not let us lose for choosing be generous givers in every form.
Meanwhile, Southwest continues to be the only major carrier not charging for those checked bags. They have widely advertised this decision. The end result of this policy is not surprising to me. While even some of their own insiders were wringing their hands about passing up over $750 million by not charging for checked bags, Southwest has earned $1.8 billion dollars instead. According to Harvard Business Review, Southwest has never lost money in 37 years of operation. The other major carriers are operating in the red, but Southwest continues to operate in the black while paying their employees relatively well. Amazingly, Southwest has not suffered from their lack of greed, but Spirit has suffered despite theirs.
There is a valuable lesson or pair of lessons to be learned by all of us from this. Those who keep their fists tight find it difficult to receive, while those who practice generosity often find that such a practice "pays." Biblical stewardship seems to work this way. Givers receive in good measure (Lk. 6:38; Mal. 3:10). When we are stingy with our time, our praise, our efforts, our involvement, or any other resource God has blessed us with, we are the poorer for it. Hoarding does not benefit the hoarder! Giving blesses the giver. The airlines teach us this, but before that God did the teaching. Through Solomon, He says, "There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand" (Ecc. 5:13-15). In Luke 12:15, warning against covetousness, Jesus taught that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Let us learn that we will not ultimately prosper who greedily seek after self, and God will not let us lose for choosing be generous givers in every form.
--Neal Pollard
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