在芬蘭與俄羅斯為期三個月的冬季戰爭（1939-1940年）中，一名芬蘭士兵受傷躺臥在戰場上。他看見一名俄羅斯士兵走了過來，用步槍指著他。這名芬蘭士兵以為自己大限將至，沒想到俄羅斯士兵竟遞給他一個急救箱，然後就繼續往前走了。出人意料的是，這名芬蘭士兵後來也遇上類似的情況，只不過角色對調。此次是一名俄羅斯士兵負傷，無助地躺在戰場上。於是芬蘭士兵給了他醫藥用品，然後繼續前行。

耶穌為我們的生活提供了一個核心指導原則：「無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人」（馬太福音7章12節）。如果基督徒都遵行這基本的原則，你能想像這世界會有多大的不同嗎？如果我們全都按照耶穌的智慧而行，你可以想像能停止多少迫害？但願我們都能遵循耶穌的指示，將自己想要得到的慈悲憐憫給予他人。當我們「拿好東西」給別人時，就是反映了天父的心意，因祂「把好東西給求祂的人」（11節）。

重要的是，我們不能只是把別人視為仇敵、陌生人，或是競逐資源與機會的對手，而是要看到他們和我們一樣，都需要憐恤和恩慈。當我們如此看待人的時候，我們的態度和觀點將有所改變。然後，我們就可以靠著上帝，將祂所賜給我們無條件的愛與恩典，慷慨地帶給他們。

A Finnish soldier in the three-month Winter War with Russia (1939-1940) lay wounded on the battlefield. A Russian soldier walked his way, pointing his rifle. The Finn was certain he’d met his end. However, the Russian handed him a medic kit, then kept moving. Remarkably, the Finn later found himself in a similar situation, only the roles were reversed—a Russian soldier lay wounded and helpless on the battlefield. The Finn handed him medical supplies and walked on.  

Jesus gave us a central, guiding principle for our lives: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Can you imagine how different our world would be if believers kept this one simple principle? Can we calculate how much oppression would end if we collectively obeyed Jesus’ wisdom? If only, as He guides us, we would give others the same compassion and mercy we’d hope to receive ourselves. As we “give good gifts” to others, we reflect the heart of our “Father in heaven [who gives] good gifts to those” He loves (v. 11).

It’s vital that we see others as not merely enemies or strangers or people with whom we compete for resources or opportunities. Instead, we should see their need for mercy and kindness just as we need it. And as we do, our posture and perspective will change. Then, as God provides, we can freely offer them the love He’s freely offered to us.