Love Sweet Love (Part I)
June/14/2010 02:59 PM
As Jesus spoke these words, an expert in the law wanting to justify himself, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
Jesus replied in verses 30-36. “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite , when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
There are so many people who are hurting or in need. They are like the man left for dead. They have been beaten up by the cruelty of the world. The enemy has stolen from them and nearly destroyed them, leaving them on the side of the road with no hope. Sadly, the priest and the Levite, who knew the right thing to do, who had the ability to help, didn’t reach out. It is almost unthinkable that they could pass by a bleeding and dying man, even one of their own countrymen, and do nothing.
Notice, though, what this passage says about the Samaritan as he traveled: “and he came where the man was.” The Samaritan had an agenda to carry out and a course he was taking, but he took time to stop and go to where the man was. Also, it is interesting that the Samaritan was a stranger from another place, who was despised by the Jews. The priest and the Levite were of the same country and religion, but they didn’t care. Yet, it was the Samaritan who helped the hurting man. He didn’t care what country he was from. He didn’t even consider whether the man could pay him back for his kindness. He put the love of God in action by helping a neighbor in need.
All the hurting, dying and lost people are not going to come to us. They won’t all conveniently show up to church so we can reach out to them! We have to go where they are!
Then the word says that the Samaritan saw him and took pity on him. This word pity means compassion. Too many times we simply feel sorry for people, but that certainly doesn’t help them.
Compassion is motivated by love. It takes the next step beyond sympathy and does something to help change the situation. It takes action and gets involved.
It’s human nature to ask ourselves a question similar to the expert of the law, “Who is my neighbor?’ when we pass by someone who is hurting. We may have thoughts like, “Is this really my responsibility?” or “Do I really have time to stop?”
Of course one individual can’t carry the load of all, but as we go about our day, the Holy Spirit will lead us and show us who to minister to. He will be faithful to show us what to do. Our job is to be sensitive to His voice and be obedient. Just our encouraging word or kind act, could make the difference between life and death for another. It could be the difference between despair and joy for someone.
It may cost us our time, our resources or even our money, but isn’t that why God has blessed us with these things? Our cost is small compared to the value of a neighbor encouraged or rescued from the enemy’s grip. I wonder if these acts of compassion are what make up all the jewels in our crown we will receive in heaven? So we are compelled by the love of God and the command of Jesus, “Go and do likewise.”
I John 3:17-18: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity (compassion) on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
kimconnor@whwc.org
|