Because She Cared

[The Lord] says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6.

They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar.” – Acts 16:20.

When his wife of forty years died, the elderly widower became a regular at the local restaurant. One teenage waitress waited on him regularly and called him if he didn’t arrive at mealtime. When he died childless, he left most of his $500,000 estate to her. A part-time employee of the restaurant, she proved herself a full-time friend. She took time to show concern, not just to take his order. She gave him attention, and he gave her his gratitude in the one way no one could misunderstand.

There is an old saying that people won’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. Christ’s disciples need to cultivate friendships with non-Christians, not only because the unsaved need our values and perspectives but because it is the only way to keep our local congregations growing, involved in rescuing the community, renewing values, and begetting a spiritual renaissance.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.