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As a woman neared a restaurant, she noticed a sad dejected young man sitting beside the door with his saxophone. She smiled, said hello, put $5.00 by his side, and asked him to play a song. He got up and played. Soon others gave him money. A year later, she saw that same young man playing his saxophone at a concert. Her simple act of kindness gave him the boost to get his life together. This woman’s kindness illustrates what Jesus taught, found in Luke 6. Jesus said, “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” If you are like many people, you try to understand how to apply Jesus’ teaching in our culture. Rather than looking for ways to get around or explain away Christ’s teaching, we should ask God to show us how to obey them more fully.
