Matthew 5:38-42 speaks about going a second mile.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
I read this portion of Matthew 5 and think..it sounds like a lot of work. To go a second mile with someone, we must be willing to go one mile first. I have to admit, sometimes I don't even make it that far. I don't always react with love, with sweetness, with gentleness. My pride gets in the way. And as Christians, sometimes we think we're doing something really awesome and good when we react well to those who have wronged us, hurt us, or belittled us. When experiencing difficult situations or conversations we throw our "love" at them with a prideful, "Aha. Take that! I'm gonna be the better man." But are we really any better? Are we ever less prone to temptation, anger, pride, or really any vice than our neighbor? No.
And while it's definitely important and necessary to respond well...
what if instead of simply reacting well in love, we made initiatives to love?
Instead of saying "yes" to friends that ask for rides...what if we volunteered rides?
Instead of saying "yes" to those who ask for prayers...what if we always offered to pray and reassured them of prayers? Without being told.
Instead of internally cringing or hesitating when someone says those often dreaded words, "Can you do me a favor?"...what if we gave a 100% willing, unconditional, and enthusiastic "yes"?
What I mean to say is...
Instead of merely agreeing to do things for others, what if we offered? What if we initiated whole-heartedly? Instead of sparingly serving love to one another, what if we poured it out unto others lavishily, without measure, without reserve.
Let's be real, most of the time...we are unwilling. Or we just plain don't think of it. We're so concerned with ourselves. Our schedule. Our time. Our money. Our success. Our priorities. And in the midst of being consumed/obsessed with ourselves....we neglect others. But one thing is always true...Christ shows His love towards us by laying down his life. What if we believers did the same? Laid down our lives...not only by reacting in love...but by initiating love towards all men. Just as God both initiates and reacts in love...we show who Christ is by both.
Today, just as I walked into Zera's for my weekly coffee/study day, God poured out a cup of kindness towards me through a complete stranger. He was somewhat older and sat in his wheelchair at one of the long wooden tables. Just as I was passing, he turned to me and introduced himself as Todd. I noticed immediately that he had a severe stutter. We only spoke briefly, but he was warm and inviting. He asked me about the usual..my major (Speech Pathology), the ministry I'm involved in in Denton, my church. And I thought to myself..."Well, that was sweet." People don't usually just strike up conversation with people they don't know like that.
A little later, I went to the counter to get an iced coffee, and Todd was there paying his tab. As soon as he saw me, he told the cashier that he wanted to get something for his 'new friend'. And as much as I politely refused, he graciously persisted. I finally submitted and picked the cheapest thing on the menu that I could possibly find. And as I think to myself, "Oh, no, this is just too much. So nice....," he asked the cashier if my drink came with free refills. When she said "No" he said, "Okay, then make it a bottomless."
In my head, I'm thinking...."Oh man...his kindness towards me just never ends. I shouldn't be getting a bottomless...I can barely finish just a small size...He's really wasting his money. He doesn't even know me...."
And as I stay to talk to him for a bit at the counter while he finishes paying, he just tells me that they'll bring the coffee out to where I'm sitting. I don't even know what to tell him in response to the unexpected sweetness...but he says that it was a pleasure meeting me. Imagine that. The pleasure was all mine Mr.Todd...who I will probably never meet again. I was astounded.
I have to say...it got me thinking...
Why can't more people be like that? Why can't I be like that? Would I have ever even thought of doing that for someone I didn't know. Probably not.
What if people always cared for each other like that? Not acting only out of duty or obligation or necessity (because we don't know how to say "no" when people ask us for things) but volunteering to love...volunteering to give of ourselves graciously...just as God the Father fully gives of himself to us...because we want to say "yes."
How can we better live out the sacrificial love of Jesus? By sacrificing time and convenience to be there for others. And not only those who are close or important to us. But to every person...because of simply that...they are a person.
I want to be open and willing to go the extra mile for others.
I pray the words of John 13:35...that "By this the world will know that (we) are (His) disciples...if (we) have love for one another." I hope that our identity in Christ will be apparent by our love. Let's invite God to make our hearts bigger for His glory, so that the more we receive, the more we may also give.
