In Matthew 5: 41, the Bible says, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” The law at that time stipulated that if a Roman soldier encountered a civilian, he could ask him to carry his luggage for one mile. Jesus taught that in addition to accepting the unfair treatment, one could actively choose to go the extra mile for the soldier, which implied going one step further to love the enemy. Broadly speaking, it can also be said that in addition to doing your duty, one ought to show love and do more for the other person. This is the mentality that a Christian should have.
A while ago, my wife and I traveled to Branson, Missouri. We walked into a jewelry supply store, which sold accessories and tools for jewelry making. My wife was interested in old pendants, but unfortunately there was none there. The proprietress was kind and told us that there was another shop in the old town not far away. Then she jotted down the address and phone number for us. People often say that running a business is like fighting on a battlefield, and competitors are like enemies. The woman didn’t need to tell us about the other store, but she treated us with kindness and grace. She’s walked an extra mile.
Whenever we join a church or an organization, we’ll want to know the rights and obligations of members. We view the obligation as our voluntary duties and don’t expect getting paid for fulfilling them. Doctors volunteer to treat patients in free clinics. Lawyers do pro bono work to fight for the rights of the poor. I once went to the hospital for an examination, and one of the volunteers led me from one department to another through a long passage. During the conversation, I learned that he has been a volunteer in the hospital for more than 10 years after he retired. These are the people who walk the second mile.
When someone asks us something about a book, a room for rent, or a car repair tool, maybe our answer is no. But we can stop and ponder, “Can I help the person in some way? Provide a little more information? Spend extra effort?” That’s how to walk the second mile.
(Ken, retired pastor. Ken served in 3 different churches from 1987-2020.)
