Hope Part II Who Is My Neighbor?
Today is a guest blog from Paul Hirz, Living Perspectives Board member.
The Really Good Samaritan!
You know the Good Samaritan parable, right? (Luke 10:30) This traveler heading down the rugged 17 mi. road from Jerusalem to Jericho gets mugged and robbed and ends up in the ditch. He is in bad shape. A couple guys come by at different times and see him lying there, hurt and without clothes, and decide they don’t want to get involved. Then this other guy shows up. He is from Samaria where the lowest of the low live (at least from a Jewish perspective). He doesn’t find any respect in Judea and is probably headed north to his home in the hill country. He immediately has pity on the injured man, patches him up, takes him to an inn close by, stays with him overnight, leaves some money, and promises to come back to check on him.
Now, the guys who passed by on the other side of the road probably weren’t all bad. They were regulars at the Temple and maybe even tithed. They had seen others in need; people without a home or job, hungry, lonely, depressed, and without hope. Sometimes, they even left a little money on the ground beside them. They just didn’t have time or didn’t feel qualified to get involved. They might suggest to their friends they start a program and train people how to best serve. Maybe by doing this together they would experience real Christian community and truly feel the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them. It could become a joy rather than work.
We don’t know the rest of the story, but what if the Samaritan stayed in touch with the traveler and got to know him. Maybe, by listening and building a relationship they would find they could become a blessing to each other. Maybe, Jesus would become their connection and the Samaritan would become the “Really Good Samaritan”.
Remember, Jesus used this parable to answer their question, “And who is my neighbor?” It is more than just the naked guy in the ditch; it is everywhere around us. Parables challenge us, guide us, and suggest response. Our opportunity is to model Jesus and truly touch those in need by building relationships and witnessing in a very natural way. We can’t do it very well second-hand!
Let’s meet on that road down to Jericho—soon!
Do you ever feel that you are not qualified to bring hope and encouragement to a neighbor, be he or she next door, homeless or someone in your life who is hurting? You are more qualified than you know-step out like the Samaritan, share your hope and experience the joy.
