Being nice to nice people is too easy. If you know someone will always say hi back or return your phone calls or get lunch next time, we get comfortable. Maybe not complacent, we don’t want to take the kind people in our lives for granted, but then sometimes we do anyway.

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 6:32-36

If we want to be Godly, it’s not good enough to settle for being kind to the kind ones. We must look after the ones who will never appreciate us, too. Why? To change them and make them realize their unkindness? Maybe. But really, that’s expecting a return on our own kindness and defies the principle we are trying to uphold. No, we must rather be kind with no hope of reciprocation in order to imitate the one who showed us, the unkind and the ungrateful the ultimate kindness in saving our eternal souls.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Ethan Kirl