When the lawyer asked Jesus who his neighbor was, I don't think he expected the response he received. True to form, Jesus answered the question with a parable that drove the point home. The Samaritan was the one who got his hands messy and helped the poor man who was left for dead on the side of the road. He gave of his time, he gave of his energy, and he gave of his material resources. How often do we approach needy situations with an attitude of helplessness? "Oh, there's nothing I can do about it," we reason. Jesus was pointing out that those who truly understand what it means to love their neighbors will seek to find tangible ways of reaching out to those in need. Maybe you don't have enough money to pay their electric bill one month, but could you help by mowing their lawn? Too often we allow busyness and selfishness to get in the way of helping others. I know I'm guilty of it. I have a neighbor who really annoys me, and I don't often try to love her. Jesus tells us to love others whether they deserve it or not. In the case of the Samaritan, the person he helped probably didn't even know he was being helped; he was unconscious! Is there a tangible need that you can meet in the life of somebody around you? What will you do to put this into practice?
About Seth
Seth is a pastor, author, and speaker who lives in Batesville, Indiana. He is married to Kari, and they have two daughters, Madelyn and Noelle.
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