在20世紀初期，美國法律嚴禁黑人及外來移民在加州的科羅納多市租屋或購買房屋。但在這項帶有歧視的法令通過之前，有一位生而為奴的黑人格斯．湯普森（Gus Thompson）已經在科羅納多市購買了土地，建了一棟寄宿公寓。1939年，格斯把房子租給一個華裔家庭，最終還把土地賣給他們。在將近85年之後，這個華裔家庭的幾位成員出售了這片土地，並捐出所得的金額來幫助黑人大學生。此外，他們也致力促使聖地牙哥州立大學的一間學生中心，以格斯夫婦的名字命名，作為紀念。

利未記談到善待別人的真正涵義。上帝囑咐祂的百姓：「你的弟兄在你那裡若漸漸貧窮，手中缺乏，你就要幫補他，使他與你同住，像外人和寄居的一樣」（25章35節）。上帝教導百姓要公平地善待本族的同胞與外來者，特別是有需要的人。他們要因著對上帝的「敬畏」之心（36節），幫助那些在生活上遭遇困難、無法照顧自己的人，要像對待「外人和寄居的」一樣（35節），以愛心款待他們。

格斯．湯普森和他妻子幫助一個異族的家庭，後來這個家庭轉而祝福更多其他的人。讓我們將上帝的憐憫傳遞給有需要的人，靠著上帝的幫助將祂的愛帶給他們。

In the early 1900s, laws restricted Black people and immigrants in the United States from renting or buying property in Coronado, California. A Black man named Gus Thompson (whod been born into slavery) had purchased land earlier and built a boarding home in Coronado before the discriminating laws were passed. In 1939, Gus rented to an Asian family, and eventually sold the land to them. Nearly eighty-five years later, after selling the property, some members of the Asian family are donating their proceeds from the sale to help Black college students. They’re also working to name a center at San Diego State University after Gus and his wife, Emma.

Leviticus also speaks of what it means to treat others well. God instructed His people, “Help [the poor] as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you” (25:35). He instructed the people to treat each other well and fairly, especially those in need. Out of reverent “fear” (v. 36) for Him, they were to help those who’d fallen on hard times and weren’t able to take care of themselves. They were to treat them just as they would treat a “foreigner and stranger” (v. 35)—with hospitality and love.

Gus Thompson and his wife helped a family that didn’t look like them. In return, that family is blessing many other people. Let’s extend God’s compassion to those in need as He helps us reveal His love for them.