Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. Proverbs 10:12
“On the cross, Jesus did what He had taught. “Father forgive them,” He prayed. And immediately He added the mitigating reason, “for they know not what they do.” Those words show the greatness of soul of Christ’s humanity. “Love your enemies”… “pray for those who abuse you”… Jesus has always asked that same greatness of soul from those who are His own. The first martyr, Stephen, died asking pardon for those who killed him. Are we then not to pardon the comparatively trivial incidental things that happen to us each day? And if back-biting and serious defamation, should be aimed at us, should we let slip that opportunity to offer something more valuable in return? It would be better still if we never reached the point of finding it necessary to forgive, imitating the saints in refusing to take offense in the first place.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3 (London: Scepter, 1990) 371.
How do we imitate Jesus and the saints and refuse to take offenses? This is not an easy question and not an aspect of generosity that I have mined very deeply over the years.
As I ponder it this morning in the midst of important meetings in India that can exponentially impact gospel advancing efforts I give thanks for the answer in today’s Scripture: focus on the love of God.
When we think about the love God has for us and when we consider how measureless and matchless it is toward us, we can extend love toward even the most undeserving.
In places that need the gospel most, there tends to be a lot of corruption and very unlovable people. The only thing that can empower stewards to live, give, serve, and love generously in such places is the love of God.
The sad truth about humanity relates to our pervasive brokenness. But when we match that against the love of God which has now width or depth, we find the solution to showing generosity to the undeserving.
Consider this message from Jesus from which Fernandez draws today’s post.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36
Let’s listen to Jesus remembering that our mission is not just to show love to our friends, but to show it to the ungrateful and wicked. When we do this we are truly children of the Most High.
God help us refuse to take offense and do this generously because first you did it for us.