I heard of a neat demonstration of love recently, and I can't help thinking it's a special one in the sight of God. Our son, Matt, has been working as a Teacher's Aid at River Hills School since January. River Hills is a school for those who are severely challenged both mentally and physically. Matt works with a handful of students largely incapable of communication or even of the most basic functions of life without help.
One of Matt's students is Marty. Marty can do few things that most young men can do, but he can and does enjoy life, and one of the things he really enjoys is classical music. So, for several weeks, Matt has been feeding him a steady diet of classic music from Matt's own collection of CD's. (Matt, too, loves classical music and has become quite knowledgeable about that aspect of the fine arts.) "Marty really likes classical music," Matt said one night at our supper table. When asked how he knows that Marty likes classical music, Matt replied, "He rocks!" When Marty really likes something, he rocks back and forth and laughs, and as the strains of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto or other famous pieces of music play in Marty's hearing, he rocks!
Last Thursday Marty graduated from River Hills. Matt got to be part of the festivities, and Karen and I attended. It was a joyous and moving event. At the ceremony it was noted that Marty especially likes to listen to Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons." I was proud when I heard that, because that is one of the CD's Matt had brought in for Marty to listen to. But what I heard the next day really touched my heart. Karen had commented on how moving it was to hear of Marty's love for classical music, knowing that Matt was his aid. That's when Matt told us he had given his copy of Vivaldi to Marty as a graduation gift. It was a simple expression of love.
Now, here is what makes this an exalted gift in the eyes of God. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says to a group of people who had been serving others, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." In other words, Jesus has a special place in His heart for those people our culture labels as 'the least among us.' Our culture sees them as 'non-productive,' but Jesus sees them as 'brothers of Mine," and He takes notice when we love them. When we love "the least of them" (Jesus is using our language here, not His), Jesus receives it as if it's a gift given directly to Him.
So in giving his gift to Marty... in finding a way to express his love for Marty, was Matt fulfilling the 2nd greatest commandment (to love your neighbor as yourself), or was he fulfilling the 1st (to love the Lord your God)? Or was he doing both? And is there, perhaps, a way that each of us might do both?
One of Matt's students is Marty. Marty can do few things that most young men can do, but he can and does enjoy life, and one of the things he really enjoys is classical music. So, for several weeks, Matt has been feeding him a steady diet of classic music from Matt's own collection of CD's. (Matt, too, loves classical music and has become quite knowledgeable about that aspect of the fine arts.) "Marty really likes classical music," Matt said one night at our supper table. When asked how he knows that Marty likes classical music, Matt replied, "He rocks!" When Marty really likes something, he rocks back and forth and laughs, and as the strains of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto or other famous pieces of music play in Marty's hearing, he rocks!
Now, here is what makes this an exalted gift in the eyes of God. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says to a group of people who had been serving others, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." In other words, Jesus has a special place in His heart for those people our culture labels as 'the least among us.' Our culture sees them as 'non-productive,' but Jesus sees them as 'brothers of Mine," and He takes notice when we love them. When we love "the least of them" (Jesus is using our language here, not His), Jesus receives it as if it's a gift given directly to Him.
So in giving his gift to Marty... in finding a way to express his love for Marty, was Matt fulfilling the 2nd greatest commandment (to love your neighbor as yourself), or was he fulfilling the 1st (to love the Lord your God)? Or was he doing both? And is there, perhaps, a way that each of us might do both?
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