Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “What is written in Moses’ Teachings? What do you read there?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.’ And ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'” Jesus told him, “You’re right! Do this, and life will be yours.” But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. “By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way. “But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll pay you on my return trip.’ “Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?” The expert said, “The one who was kind enough to help him.” Jesus told him, “Go and imitate his example!” (Luke 10:25-37 GW)
Who do you most identify with in this story and why?
Have you ever felt like or been the man on the street?
What are the barriers to helping the man on the street?
Have you ever been too busy to help someone?
Is our decision to help someone determined more by our character or by our circumstances?[1]
What can we do to better prepare ourselves to be a good neighbor?
How can we ‘go and imitate [the good Samaritan’s] example’? [2],[3]
[1] Darley, J. M., and Batson, C.D., “From Jerusalem to Jericho”: A study of Situational and Dispositional Variables in Helping Behavior”. JPSP, 1973, 27, 100-108.
[2] “God does not demand of me that I accomplish great things. He does demand of me that I strive for excellence in my relationships.”-Ted W. Engstrom, The Making of a Christian Leader, 81
[3] Luke 10:37
Last Wednesday, Drew covered the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Even if you know it, please take a few minutes and read it before you continue. And, as you read it consider your answers to these questions and record them in your journal:
Who do you most identify in this story? Why?
What are the barriers to helping the man on the street?
What can you do to better prepare yourself to be a good neighbor?I like to think of myself as someone who is kind and helpful. But am I really? Of all the characters in that story I know who I least identify with. If I am truthful with myself, when it comes to everyday life, the person I least identify with is the Good Samaritan. The barriers we talked about last Wednesday during our Men of the Path session were all of the ones that keep me from being a good neighbor. The reasons that came up at our table were judgment, fear (both fear of physical harm and fear of rejection, pride and being too busy). All of them revolve around self, don’t they? It is as Pete McKenzie says, “I know I am not much, but I am all I think about.” That is so true; it is thinking of ourselves first that leads to judgment, fear, pride and being too busy. I did not have to look far to see how thinking only of myself kept me from being a good neighbor. A few Saturdays ago, Cynthia asked me to go with her to help pick out some new glasses. I liked that Cynthia respected my opinion enough to ask me to accompany her to South Coast Plaza. I was full of pride knowing I had a say in the new glasses she would be wearing. But it didn’t take long for me to mess that up. When we approached the store Cynthia wanted to visit, God created a good neighbor opportunity for me; He gave me the chance to love as only Jesus could love. See, the only people working that Saturday afternoon were two gay men. They were very flamboyant. I did the most incredible thing; I told Cynthia I did not feel like being around “them” today. I then said I would sit out on a bench and wait for her. Cynthia went inside anyway. I noticed that Cynthia tried on several pairs of glasses and listened intently as the person assisting her gave his opinion. Cynthia came out and we went on our way. She never said a word to me. She did not have to; the next day God said it all. That next day was when Bucky told us his “gondola story.” If you were at service that Sunday, you know what I am talking about. Bucky and Kathleen got on a gondola to go up the mountain to ski and three gay guys got on. As Bucky told that story I knew God was having Bucky tell it just for me. I realized several things that morning; one was that I am not the kind, helpful person I like to think I am. Another was that I am very selfish; I am not much but I am all I think about – and that leads to my judgment of others. And another was that Cynthia is the most incredible woman of grace and compassion; the kind of person I am supposed to be and the kind of person it takes to love an idiot like me. God gave me an opportunity to be a good neighbor to my own girlfriend and I couldn’t even do it. God gave me an opportunity to be a good neighbor to the store clerk; to show him that the light of Christ shines in me, and I could not do it. I discovered the biggest barrier to my being a good neighbor is me! After Bucky told that story I broke down and cried; I asked God to forgive me for not being the man He wants me to be. Cynthia was teaching the fourth/fifth grade class that day so she was not there to hear Bucky’s story. When we got in the car to leave I told her how God showed me I was a very bad neighbor, especially to the woman I claim to love. If I cannot be a good neighbor to Cynthia how can I expect to be one to the guy in the eyeglass store? Or, to anyone else? Love one another; for me, that is the hardest thing Jesus has commanded me to do because it involves the biggest risk. The risk of being totally vulnerable; of feeling hurt and pain and overcoming “self.” How selfish am I to NOT love everyone with total abandon? I look at the cross and wonder, is the pain and suffering Jesus endured for me diminished by my selfishness? Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” That is the Good Samaritan way, isn’t it? I am glad we covered the Good Samaritan story. I hope the next time God gives me an opportunity to love, I will remember how the cross and how Jesus loves me.