Selfless Love for All

Key Scripture Passage
"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." Matthew 5:41 NIV

Reflection
Conventional wisdom teaches to invest in what provides a return. We may give our time and money to others, but we enjoy the "good feelings" we get when our generosity is appreciated, or maybe we give with the hope of being admired by others. Why spend your own precious money and time when there is absolutely nothing to show for it? Or maybe for a more selfless person the thought process would be "would they appreciate my sacrifice?" As Christians we know that Jesus paid an agonizing price for all, though many do not recognize that sacrifice.

Matthew 5 primarily focuses on being generous with enemies. Which, from the standpoint of conventional wisdom, would be foolish. We are told to not resist an evil person, and in the examples given enemies are already taking something when we are asked to walk the extra mile or give away our cloak or turn to them the other cheek. Outside the context of this verse, in a real life situation, most Christians would say it is foolish to give more to an evil person who is already taking from you. If you are robbed at gunpoint and they ask for your wallet, do you offer them the keys to your car as well?

This is a challenging exhortation. At the core we are called to love our enemies. Every human on Earth is a creation of God and the worst sinners can become God's greatest advocates. Saul in Acts 8, is a great persecutor of the Church, but he becomes a disciple of Jesus and one of the Bibles greatest evangelists! Part of Saul's transformation to Paul involved God sending a man named Ananias to go heal Saul. He of course had second thoughts as Saul was a well known persecutor. God was sending Ananias to place hands on and heal a great enemy. No matter how evil the sinner, it should not preclude them from receiving Gods love through us. How powerful a message it is to give more to your enemies than they want to steal from you.

In the end, the Kingdom of Heaven is like the man who sold all his possessions to buy a precious pearl in Matthew 13:45, and walking an extra mile with someone to further the Kingdom of Heaven and exemplify God's love does not seem so steep a price.

Questions to Consider
Are you willing to love your enemies or at least love the unlikable people in your life?

Action Step for the Week
Since we hopefully will have few opportunities to go the extra mile with someone who is forcing us to, try to find ways to go the extra mile with people in your life especially the ones you initially would rather not walk the first mile with.