The Second Mile

What would you think of a person who ate just enough to keep from starving and ate no more? What would you think of a person who wore just enough clothes in the winter to keep from freezing and no more? What about someone who worked just hard enough to keep from getting fired? What does God think about us if we do just enough in His service to get by? If we can recognize the need to give something extra, to go the second mile in physical things, certainly we should recognize our duty to go the second mile for the Lord (Matt 5:41)!

Paul knew Philemon had this attitude, he knew Philemon would do more than Paul asked (Philemon 21). The churches of Macedonia demonstrated this attitude when they gave beyond their power (II Cor 8:3). Read Rom 9:3 and see if Paul wasn’t willing to do more than what was "required." The poor widow of Mark 12:41-44 was definitely willing to give the "second mite."

Is our attitude characterized by a statement such as "I do my part, I come to the services"? If so, we need to read the New Testament again. Jesus taught in Matt 16:25 that "our part" is to completely give our lives over to him. This would certainly require us to give a little extra when called upon. Let’s all resolve to try a little harder in God’s service.

written Nov 20, 1984 – some of the ideas in this article were taken from an outline by Willard Conchin

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