Going the extra mile: The call of the Gospels

"The value of a sheep is in its tail" is an African proverb ~ The tail of a sheep seems minor and can easily be dismissed as insignificant and having no value because of its location which is behind. It is customary that some even cut off part of the tail so as to enable it to grow healthier. The sheep stores much of its fat in the tail. The lesson here is that it is not enough to make maximum use of our gifts and talents, we must also look beyond what is the obvious, look for that which is hidden, that which seems to be minor and insignificant. This is what is known as doing that which is little with extraordinary attention, it is in these little details that one finds perfection, it is going the extra mile, when no one is watching.

Individuals who go the extra mile are those who are willing to go beyond the call of duty or expectations. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, "if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the left one also... and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Mat. 5:39-41) Some people might think what Christ is encouraging here is a certain submissiveness that does not value the freedom of the individual, rather what he is teaching is that one should not be satisfied by merely getting by, or traveling along the easy path with the least resistance. Don't be satisfied with the basics; we have the capacity to achieve more than we can imagine. If we do not just look at things on the surface, if we can go deeper we will rise to such heights of perfection in our way of life and thinking. Scriptures presents  a relevant scenario in the parable of the talents. Three servants were entrusted with special resource. "The man who had received the five talents went at one and put his money to work and gained five more. so also the one what the two talents gained two more" (Mat 25:16-17) To go an extra mile requires creativity and thinking outside the box, which these two servants clearly exhibited and were appropriately rewarded. The servant who buried his talents also was rewarded accordingly. Our gifts and talents are not just for selfish gains, they are given to us to better humanity. 

The disciples on the road to Emmaus met a lone traveler and tried to protect him from danger. they told him about the brutal crucifixion of Jesus. They did not stop at warning him about the unsafe environment prevailing in that area but they also compelled him to stay with them and resume the journey at daybreak. "But they strongly urged him, "to stay with us for it is almost evening; the day is nearly over" (Luke 24:28-29) You can say that they have already given him enough information; yet they were not satisfied, they went the extra mile as they became too concerned for the travelers' safety and ultimately discovered that it was the Lord. In going the extra mile, one discovers Christ, do all things for the glory of God, and whatever you do to and for the least of my brethren that you do unto me (Matt. 25: 40)

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the sympathetic traveler would have done one or two things for the wounded man. "He bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine... he put the man on his won donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him... he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said'and when I return I will reimburse your for any extra expense you may have"  (Luke 10:34-35) The good Samaritan did not think he had done enough until the man was completely cured, unlike the priest and the Levite who had gone before him and seemed to have legitimate reasons for not stopping to help a person in need. 

There is also the case of the the parable of the ten lepers. Jesus healed all ten of them, however only one felt that it was not just enough to experience the joys of healing, he came back to express his gratitude. What happened to the nine? The attitude of gratitude is so key to success for it requires humility to express one's gratitude for favors received and not think that we are deserving of such favors. "one of them came back praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him..." (Luke 17:15-16) We read further that our Lord asked, were there not 10? where are the other 9? Many people fail because they lack this attitude of gratitude in small things. The one who is faithful in small things will be given more and to whom much is given, much is expected.

Again, on one occasion, the disciples spent the night fishing and had caught nothing, rather than give up, the cast out into the deep and when Jesus came, he rewarded their effort and asked them to cast out there nets once more. "When they did, they were unable to haul the nets because of the big number of fish they caught" (John 21: 3-6).

The disciples did not claim that fishing time was over, rather they put in more effort. In every situation whether professional, personal, or social, there is always room to go the extra mile. Don't settle for mediocre and just get by. Martin Luther King Jr. says, "if a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well." The same was said of Christ "Is not this the Carpenter's son... where then did he get this wisdom.? He did all things well. (Matt. 13:55)

True success is measured by not how much but how well we do that which is our duty and when we have done all we asked to do, we should remember we are just unworthy servants. we have only done our duty. cf Luke 17:10& ff.