Whatever you got, give it out. If you've received it give it out to others. Assume everyone is your friend.
A "works-based guy" comes to Jesus:
"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”" Luke 10:25-39
This guy is testing Jesus. When he asked who his neighbor was he was looking for a loophole. If we're trying to get out of something God tells us to do, we're wrong.
Compassion -- show mercy.
THE PARABLE
Context -- Who is my neighbor?
Setting -- Road to Jericho. It was 18 miles downhill. It was known as "The Way of Blood" because it was so dangerous.
Characters -- Priest, Levite, Samaritan, Jewish victim
"31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side."
The priest was supposed to be the person closest to God. He avoided the victim. This priest was born into ministry. The Levite was also born into ministry. Levites served priests. Both were leaving Jerusalem so both had time.
Actions vs. Appearance.
Compassion vs. Self-interest.
The "expert in the law" didn't object to the priest's and the levite's actions in the story. It is like he almost expected them.
"Charity is more popular than compassion. Compassion has a cost, and charity is tax deductible." Anonymous
Compassion costs.
What cost?
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’" Luke 10:33-35
The costs:
Emotional -- Samaritan took pity on the victim. He's traveling. There is a risk to the Samaritan for him to just go over to the man. Intention -- went to the victim
Effort -- bandaged his wounds. Took time to take care of the man.
Resources -- oil and wine. These weren't cheap. Oil for softening. Wine for disinfecting.
Labor -- Lifted him and put him on his riding animal. This took a lot of strength.
Money -- brought him to an inn and paid for his care.
Personal Responsibility -- long-term care if needed.
Time -- this hadn't been the Samaritan's plan at all. He put aside his own agenda and served this man.
Compassion is an action
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
God led us through an action -- God didn't hold back.
"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20
Go out and do. Do what I did. You will be able to do more than I did.
Henry Durant. Born 1828. Started 1st chapter of YMCA (Young men's Christian organization) in Switzerland when he saw how many boys and young men needed help and guidance. Durant had a successful career. One day he had a meeting with Napoleon III. As he was going to see him he saw 40,000 men wounded and dead in a field. No one was helping them. He convinced a local church to set up a makeshift first aid station for the soldiers. For the next several weeks he stayed and helped heal the soldiers. When he returned home he wrote letters to many country leaders and this brought about the First Geneva Convention. At this convention they decided doctors, nurses and ambulances were off limits that is how the Red Cross started. This was prior to WWI.
When you say, "Somebody should do something" maybe you are the somebody who is needed.
Give as we have received.
"We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do and more in the light of what they suffer." Diedrich Bonhoeffer
If someone is suffering, help. We need to value people and not why they may be suffering.
Everything God has given us we can give away -- Go and do.
Am I doing something?
Feeling and saying don't help the receiver. Do what I've asked you to do. When we have the ability to help, that is a gift from God to help. HELP.