He was just about to purchase Subway sandwiches to share with his new friend Tony, a homeless man in Downtown Fort Worth, when Matt abruptly switched gears and made a bold move that I will never forget.

Matt was attending the annual SENT Summit and decided to take a walk to pray, get fresh air, and reflect on the conference thus far. He entered the famous Fort Worth Water Gardens and introduced himself to Tony. As the two men sat and talked, Matt learned more about Tony’s story and asked if they could pray together. Tony joined the prayer and asked Matt to pray that Tony could have a good meal soon.

Matt searched the surrounding area, found a Subway nearby, and figured a sandwich would satisfy Tony’s request. Matt could have pressed the purchase button and delivered the food, and that would have been the end of a great story. A young father on a tight budget running a startup nonprofit buys a meal for a homeless man. But that isn’t how this story ended.

Matt felt a nudge in his heart, prompting him to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That is when Matt realized that the Subway sandwich route was the easy path, but it wasn’t what Matt wanted at the time, and Tony deserved the same treatment. Matt was in the mood for a steak and some great veggies, and he was prepared to do unto others.

Matt switched gears and spotted Bob’s Steak & Chop House, a top-rated restaurant in North Texas. He offered to get two steak dinners, and Tony knew his immediate prayers had been answered. Matt and Tony spent the following hour together, enjoying a great conversation over a set of delicious filets with a side of carrots and potatoes. Matt learned about Tony’s background and a series of events that led to his current homelessness, while Tony learned about Matt’s nonprofit work and large family.

At the end of the meal, Tony promised to stay in touch and to support Matt’s work once he got back on his feet. Tony concluded by asking Matt for any prayer intentions, to which Matt replied that he wanted prayers for his family and his wife’s pregnancy, along with prayers for my son Benny and his ongoing journey with brain cancer. Matt proceeded to give Tony a Benny Pro bracelet as a reminder of their shared prayers and the wonderful meal they enjoyed together.

Matt’s desire to do unto others is a great lesson and reminder for the rest of us. He didn’t just take the easy route to feed someone and check the box, which is admirable for sure; instead, Matt went out of his way to actually treat Tony the way he wanted to be treated.

Matt’s impact was never actually about the steak itself. Matt showered Tony with respect and dignity by spending quality time with him, enjoying the meal over great conversation, and remaining humble. The quality of the meal just took the entire experience to the next level. It reminds me of a lesson I learned long ago: providing clothing to the homeless shouldn’t mean giving out used socks and torn garments. We should give new socks and ensure that any used items are still in good condition.

Since listening to Matt’s story and seeing the awesome pictures of their dinner and Tony with his Benny Pro bracelet, I've polled many friends, and here is what I’ve concluded. Few of us are willing to go out of our way to serve someone like Tony, and even fewer of us would have spent the time, money, and energy to enjoy a steak dinner with a homeless person.

I resolve to do unto others daily and will lean on Matt’s story for inspiration. I will use his example to bring the same love, focus, and intention that he gave to Tony and I encourage you to do the same.