Once I lived in West Punjab, India. My elders in the family wholeheartedly believed that a man could drink the milk of his cow even from a hundred miles away. One day I asked my father how this was possible. He explained: “It is very simple. If you feed someone well with food and milk when he visits you, then when you are in his area, he will find you, take you to his home, and serve you with his best.”
I remember that our Lord Jesus Christ has said in Luke 6:33-36: “And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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.”
Our Jesus wants us to serve needy people without expectations—especially strangers in our land. The Holy Bible says in Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Abraham welcomed three unknown visitors, and God blessed him with the promise of a son. That is why I use the word strangers—those who may have little money, no one to care for them, and who look to us for kindness. They will always remember it, and so will God.
We should serve without seeking credit, for one day we ourselves may be strangers. If we feed somebody and take care of them for God’s sake, He is worthy to provide quails and water in the desert, to bless loaves and fishes enough for multitudes with baskets left over, and to turn simple water into wine. If He blesses our daily bread, our nets will not be able to hold it. Truly, I cannot count my Lord’s blessings.
I believe we must always be kind to strangers in our land, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ reminds us: even if someone gives a cup of water, he will not lose his reward (Mathhew 10:42).
I am saddened by the story of a great English missionary, Henry Martyn. He came to India during the height of the British Empire, translated the Gospel of John into Urdu—the first translation of Scripture into an Indian language—and blessed people in the name of Jesus Christ. When he wished to return to England, he had no money for the sea journey and travelled overland. On the way, he fell ill, became blind, and died in Turkey. He is buried in the Armenian cemetery at Tokat. Before his death, he wrote letters to his beloved wife, which were later compiled into the book My Love Must Wait.
Jesus Christ taught us through His parables to bless our neighbours, and that every man in need is our neighbour (Luke 10:29–37). Here, our Lord has given us not only the Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”—but also what some call the Platinum Rule: to love and treat others as Jesus loved and treated us. This is self-sacrificing, unconditional love—a response to the grace shown to us, and the mark of His followers.
Jesus knew that many who ate His bread would one day cry “Crucify Him.” Yet He still fed them, healed them, and loved them, even praying: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
As followers of Jesus, we too must do good even to our enemies. Our Lord commissioned us to bring His Gospel to those who are not yet His sheep. We should bless them with water, blankets, and medicine in the name of the Lord God and His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ—through whom we may also be blessed.
From the Holy Bible
As it is,
Credit your blessing to preach Jesus Christ.