But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
“A generous nature, when it forgives an abuse of its favors, seeks by increased kindness to prevent a repetition of ingratitude.”
C. Nestelle Bovee in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 294.
When we read text like today’s Scripture, we are stunned by the fact that God “is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Our human tendency is to condemn the ungrateful and the wicked.
Bovee sheds fresh light on why we must turn up the kindness when we sense ingratitude. This is the key to graciously alerting them to the need for change or even being the influence that changes their behavior.
The conference in Indianapolis has gone well. I’m grateful. It has been good to see many friends from around the country whose lives have shaped mine in the stewardship space. I fly home this afternoon.
May God continue to nurture “increased kindness” in me and all those reading this, so that together we help even the ungrateful and wicked to experience the generous love of God. Make it so, Lord Jesus! Amen.