Love Your Neighbor

Chuckle: One hunter to another: “Look at those bear tracks! I’ll go see where he came from, and you go see where he went.”

Quote: “Today . . we know that all living beings who strive to maintain life and who long to be spared pain - all living beings on earth - are our neighbors.” --Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Jesus states the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, . . soul, . . . mind, . . . and strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the (robbed and beaten) man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him" (Luke 10:33 NIV).

A lawyer asked Jesus, "If I'm to love my neighbor who is he?" Jesus answered with the familiar parable of the "Good Samaritan." The story takes place on the 20 mile steep, rocky, and dangerous road from Jerusalem down to Jericho.

Who is your neighbor? It can be anyone, especially anyone you see, or know about, who has a physical, spiritual, or emotional need. It might be the person seated right in front of you in your worship service. All around us our neighbors are hurting (divorce, death, financial, illness, etc.). Some are poor, jobless, grieving, lonely, and spiritually cold. They need someone to show concern. Our Lord wants us to keep our antennae up and tuned in to the lives of our neighbors like the Samaritan. He saw someone in desperate need, and he put personal concerns aside and stopped to help his neighbor. Here are some key words that describe the attitudes Jesus wants us to have in relation to our neighbors:

Compassion - empathy - share their hurt - experience their grief. The word for compassion is often used to describe Jesus. But here it describes someone acting like Jesus. He let nothing stand in his way. Love does not see obstacles to helping others, only solutions to people's needs. It looks for opportunities.

Contact. The language of love is understood by everyone. Making contact in love with a hurting neighbor will often break down walls of distrust and make the person more receptive to the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Care. Care enough to bind up wounds, administer healing oil, put them on your donkey (car) and get them a room - make provisions for them. Whatever it takes.

Cost. It costs us time, money, energy, materials, and convenience to be a good Samaritan. Being a ministering Christian costs us something if we are to make a difference in people's lives. We must hurt before we help - care before it counts - pay a price before the joy of the blessing comes.

What did the Samaritan get from what he did? He received neither financial reward, prestige, nor recognition. However, he gained the personal joy, peace, and satisfaction from knowing he had touched another life at a critical time and place. God knew what he had done even if no one else did. Jesus said, "If you give a cup of cool water in my name, you will be rewarded." Albert Switzer said, "Really happy people are those who have learned to serve." There's room all around for more happy Good Samaritans.

Jesus asked the lawyer, "Who was the neighbor to the man who fell among thieves?" "The man who showed mercy on him," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Would you go this week and do likewise for someone in need? Sometimes we're so busy making money, taking care of ourselves, and doing our thing, that we miss opportunities for service and the joy that follows.

Love, Jerry & Dotse