It’s a beautiful day here and spring has sprung! Today I was reading about the man in the Bible that we call the Good Samaritan. There are many timeless truths in this story Jesus told, but I want to share what hit home for me. Let’s revisit the story from the Word.
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
This scripture redefines our definition of neighbor. A neighbor isn’t necessarily someone who lives next door. We know that the priest and the Levite were religious people – the Samaritan was from a nearby city and did not generally mingle with the people of Jericho.
But the folks we would have thought would have stopped for someone who was broken and wounded, lying in a ditch, did not. In fact, they made sure to walk on the other side of the road. Ignoring the poor man’s cries and moans as he lay there bleeding.
The Samaritan however chose to stop his travels, he climbed into the ditch and pulled out the guy who was beaten. He immediately began first aid, cleaning the wounds, stopping the bleeding. Gently he put him on his horse and took him to the nearest inn and helped even more!
I love that the Samaritan didn’t ask the man who was beaten and wounded- what nationality are you? Are you Jewish? Do you believe like me? No! He immediately began caring for the man who had been beaten and robbed.
The next part is what really stands out today. The Samaritan gave money to the innkeeper to cover any additional expenses. In other words, it cost him something. First it costed him his time and effort to stop his travels and help this man. Then it costed him money at the inn.
Being a good neighbor will cost you something my friend. It costs us our time and effort and yes even at times our money. Being a good neighbor takes investment. It is good to save money and plan for retirement with your investments but it is even better to invest in people!
Let’s be intentional neighbors and good neighbors. Not just to the people we like, or who do good things for us. Be a good neighbor to those who may ridicule you, those who talk about you. Those who disagree with you. Show mercy abundantly. Go and do likewise as Jesus has said.
Shalom my friends!
Renae
In Pursuit of God 