Recently, I read a speech by a man called George Saunders. He was speaking to Syracuse University graduating class of 2013. He was talking about his biggest regret, and I was waiting for something juicy. Something very big.
Maybe he had fallen out with his family. Maybe he got arrested. Or perhaps he never pursued that girl he loved. However, his answer surprised me when he declared that his biggest regret was not always showing kindness.
He went back to a story about 7th Grade where he failed to show kindness to the new girl. He didn’t treat her badly, but he didn’t show kindness to her. He didn’t intentionally make her feel welcome, and he regrets these opportunities he had to show kindness.
It made me think of Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
What do I regret from the past?
It made me really think about my life and the things I regret. There were many times in school when like George Saunders I did not show kindness and I regret that. I have story after story were I did not show kindness and chose to ignore and ridicule classmates.
There were times growing up as a teenager I broke the law and I regret that.
There were many times I fought with my family and made something miniscule into some major.
One time my brother was fighting with me and I punched him. He got angry and started chasing me around the house. I finally ran out the front door and slammed it in his face. This resulted in the glass on the door breaking, my mum getting angry, having to pay for the glass and me being grounded for 2 weeks.
There were times in sport I got angry and sent off the field letting the team down and I regret that. I was (still working on it) a huge hothead on the soccer pitch. I once kicked a hole in the wooden backboard (indoor soccer) after missing a shot. I regret that and so does my bank account.
However, I don’t think my biggest regret has happened yet. I know exactly what my biggest regret will be if it happens. It has a huge possibility of happening in my life due to lack of boldness, lack of urgency and lack of love.
What will I regret in the future?
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
My biggest regret will be not taking this passage (known as the Great Commission) seriously. When I think of this command, it often makes me think of those who are close to me and whom I love a lot, but they don’t know Jesus as their Saviour.
This makes me think of my family. My brother Adam is also a Christian and it was one of the best days of my life when he put his trust in Jesus as his Saviour. It encourages me so much to see him grow in his faith, serving and proclaiming Jesus as his Lord.
Some of my extended family attend church, but I have never asked them if Jesus is their personal saviour. However, most of my family do not know Jesus as their Saviour. Some are sceptical, some are churched, some will engage intellectually and some will be apathetic to who and what Jesus has done.
My biggest regret has not happened yet as my family are all still alive and I still have an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. I have had an incredible run of 25 years were none of my family members have died. In tomorrow's post, I am going to highlight three areas that I want to address to prevent me from having this as my biggest regret.
But for now, it's over to you. Are you taking the Great Commission seriously? What's stopping you from reaching out to those people in your life that need to hear the gospel?
