Thought for Today

The Second Mile

As we go through life, somebody will hurt us by doing us wrong. There are four attitudes we may take in response.

1. If they hurt me, I will hurt them more- this is vindictiveness.

2. If they hurt me, I will treat them the same-this is retribution, the old law of
"an eye for an eye."

3. If they hurt me, I will ignore them and have nothing to do with them-this is
distain.

4. If they hurt me, I will love and serve them-this is God's way.

A man moved into a new house, a few days later his neighbor phoned and angrily
told him his driveway extended two feet over the property line into his yard. He
also demanded a surveyor be employed to determine exactly where the property lines
were. The man told his neighbor "we do not need a surveyor,you go out and stake
out where the line should be and I will accept your judgement." Several days went
by without a word from his neighbor nor did he stake out the property line. When
he did see his neighbor he told him to "not worry about it there was room enough
for both of them and two feet would not make much difference anyway. In going the
second mile he not only averted what could have become an ongoing feud but gained
the man's friendship.

You have heard it hath been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth;but I
say unto you, that ye resist not evil. But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take
away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go
a mile, go with him twain. Give to him who asketh thee and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:38-42