Kind to the Unthankful and Evil

Scripture: But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:35

Observation: In this briefer telling of the sermon on the mount, Jesus discusses loving others, including your enemies, with instructions about both treating them well and lending them money. He compares it to how you would treat your friends ... you would be kind to them, and you would give them money without concern for repayment. So, do the same to your enemies. Love your enemies by treating them well and lending them money, expecting nothing in return. Your reward is from God.

This is a well-known teaching, but the next sentence is not ... "For He [God] is kind to the unthankful and evil." This is a statement out of the blue. It is not about how God is kind to the believer and the giver. It is not about the great reward to be received by loving others. It is rather about God's attitude toward our enemies who are clearly evil and unthankful. God himself is kind to them. God takes care of them. Therefore, when we do good to these evil enemies, and when we give to them without expectation of reward, we are truly doing God's own work. God would care for them and show his kindness toward them without us, but - again - he offers us the chance to join in his work with him and thus receive his great reward.

Application: We are in a time where many, many people will need assistance. And we are in a place where many, many people are enemies of Christianity. The vast majority in the "pacific northwest" are not Christian. However, beyond just not being Christian, there are many (perhaps now a majority) who would declare themselves opposed to Christianity. They hate the moral teachings of God, reject the salvation of Jesus, and actively oppose the activity of the Church. And yes, over the months to come, many of them will need help.

Jesus is clear ... we are to help them. There is no ambiguity. There is no "if" clause to qualify their worthiness of help. There is no "unless" statement define exceptions. God wants to be kind to the people in this region who have actively and fully rejected him, his son, and his teaching. These are people who have redefined his love, mocked his message, and declared self-sovereignty over his creation.

And so we will, in fact, love these people, do good things for them, and give to them. I hope they see these as the act of a merciful God who is real and loving and only wishes to provide for their eternal joy. Some will. I pray many will.

Prayer: Lord, Abba, my father in heaven, I thank you for this plague upon the earth, for I know that it is a way that your love and mercy can and will shine. As was said last night and at many other times, you have the world's attention. May we be able to join with you to bring your love and message into this attentive world. I pray, Lord, that these enemies will become believers, that they will discover your truth in the midst of this trial. This is for your purposes, and I pray we see a great awakening in this part of the nation, and in the entire world. Amen.