We all like to be pampered. I’ve seen your social media posts. There’s massages, pedis and manis…restaurant plates…well, you get it. We love ourselves. We love to be pampered too when we aren’t feeling well. Chicken noodle soup in bed, our favorite blanket and a Netflix series we have been wanting to binge watch.
It’s interesting though, when it’s someone else, we have our doubts. We just say “pull up your bootstraps and let’s go”. We aren’t too worried about most people like we worry about ourselves. I’m mean, even the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:29, “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it." Case in point…
So, there’s a lawyer who is interacting with Jesus in Luke 10 and he’s got an important question. He asks the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One, “How do I inherit eternal life?’ That’s a fair question. I mean, we’d all like to know the answer. Tell me exactly what I need to do to get there. So both Jesus and the lawyer agreed that one should love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.
But then the lawyer asks a question that reminds us that we are ultimately about ourselves when he asks, “Okay. But who is my neighbor?” He asks because he doesn’t want to spend anymore on anyone than he has to spend. He’s asking, “Where is the line? I only have so much compassion to give. Where does it end?”
So Jesus tells a story to answer a question, like he does so many times. The story is found in Luke 10 when Jesus tells the story of a man traveling who gets mugged by some shady characters and left for dead. Other people are on the road as well.
A priest comes along but passes by on the other side of the road. He keeps his distance. He doesn’t have time to be bothered with this inconvenience. Jesus is saying that’s one way to interact with the world…just keep your distance.
Then a Temple servant comes along who notices the man. He goes over to take a look but eventually passes by as well. You have seen this in church folks as well. I can be intrigued but uninvolved. Folks, religion doesn’t make us loving. Jesus makes us loving. We can be so “righteous” yet unloving toward those around us. Jesus says that’s another way we could interact.
But then a Samaritan comes by who happens to be the enemy of the man lying in the ditch. He stops to mend, bandage, support, and use his own resources to help this man. Jesus says that we can also care for those around us. Jesus says this one, the one that stopped to help, is the closest to God of all.
So from this story, we learn what we can do to love our neighbor. How do I love my neighbor?
You and I must see the need to sympathize. In verse 33 it says, “when he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out.” The Samaritan looked beyond the labels and saw him. Sympathy is seeing people from God’s point of view. And you know, we have hurting people all around us. The homeless person just needing to be noticed; the single parent weeping in the common area; a tearful spouse wondering if her marriage is over; a bewildered student on a college campus weighing if there is more to life; a silenced person of color; a defiant teenager who’s home life is less than helpful.
So many people around you need to see the love of God from you. They need to know someone cares and sees them. So you and I need to slow down to empathize with those around us. The Samaritan’s heart was filled with compassion. We need to slow down, create margin in our lives and calendars in order to serve and listen. Johnny Cash’s song, “Walk a Mile” says it all.
Finally, we need to take the love God’s offered us and put it in action. See, love is something you do. The Samaritan physically takes care of the man who is hurt. Following Jesus is not easy. You and I are called to give some things up on the way in order to help other people. See, God has called us to be salt and light; to bring some flavor to our world…to shine light into the dark areas.
So it’s time to lay down that cold shoulder; it’s important to free up some time to serve those around you; It’s time to have a conversation with someone you’ve been avoiding; it’s time to reconcile with someone from who you’ve been withholding love. Our call as Jesus’ disciples is to love unconditionally…not judgmentally nor presuming the worst. Jesus says in John 13, “Love one another as I have loved you”. How did he love you? He gave his life for you. Love in such a way that people see Jesus’ love in you. Blessings on your journey.