Father Damien’s first official assignment as a Catholic priest in 1873 was to minister to a group of 600 lepers on the island of O’ahu. He dressed the wounds of the hurting, built homes and furniture for the misplaced, constructed coffins for the dying, and dug graves for the unwanted. One leper, named Kokua, openly mocked and ridiculed Damien. 

Father Damien faithfully dressed Kokua’s wounds, brought him food, cleaned his home, and sat with him as he was dying. Kokua never apologized for his mocking and never thanked Damien for his kindness. He died bitter. While Damien never received the gratitude he deserved, he loved unconditionally.
    The Bible gives us another example of this kind of costly goodness. During the construction of the temple and palace, Solomon received many necessary resources from Hiram, king of Tyre. After completing the 20-year project, Solomon decided to give Hiram towns in Galilee in return for his help. Solomon either never visited these towns or knowingly gave Hiram uninhabitable towns. 

Whatever the case, Hiram felt offended. He even named the region “Kabul” which probably means “good-for-nothing.” This is a terrible way to treat a friend. Most of us would have walked away. Instead of cutting ties Hiram responded with generosity. In 1 Kings 9:14, he sent 120 talents of gold which is the modern equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Here are two stories, two very different settings, and two men separated by almost 3000 years. But they both are living shared truth: Sometimes the people we serve will not return the kindness we give. And sometimes God calls us to keep loving anyway.

As followers of Christ, we often find ourselves holding the short end of the deal. We pray, we invest, we show up, we pour out, and the person we’re helping may not change, may not thank us, may never even like us. The question isn’t, “Will they appreciate me?” The question is, “Will I be faithful to God?”

Father Damien loved Kokua because Christ loved him first. Hiram honored his covenant because he feared God more than offense. And we are called to do the same. Not because people always deserve it, but because God always does.