Prompted By Faith
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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. The next day he took out two denarii 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.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:33-37
Recently, there has been significant discussion regarding the prevalence of loneliness globally. While it may seem unlikely for someone such as myself, with ten grandchildren, to consider or be concerned about loneliness, the topic nonetheless occupies my thoughts. This issue does not appear to affect my personal life or immediate social circle. Yet, it worries me because I do not want people to feel alone in this world even as I do not have either control or responsibility for the happiness of others. However, if I can help someone who might be feeling that way in the slightest bit to know that people care and they matter, it is one less person suffering. One less person will question if their life matters.
As a Christian, we know that our lives are to reflect Christ’s character and serve as role models to others, so that His teachings may be known. It can be a challenge especially when encountering those who may not share or understand these values. Nonetheless, the aim of following Christ is to continually improve in serving both Him and others, as Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) To do that, we must see people where they are and give them a hand. This is not to question anyone’s contributions or giving in this moment, but rather to recognize situations where additional action might be necessary and to respond appropriately when prompted by faith.
Being a follower of Christ is about serving others as Jesus Himself served. I was writing this thinking about how I struggle in this area. I often feel guilty having to focus so much on family as of late that there is very little time to serve outside. It is why the story of The Good Samaritan comforts me. It is a reminder that it does not always matter how much you serve. It is about serving when it matters to God. Yes, a continual ritual of serving much like volunteering on a weekly or quarterly basis would be ideal. However, God does not look at us by saying you get to Heaven if you checked this box off. Paul says, “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” (Galatians 2:16) Thus, the act of doing things for God is not what saves us. The story of The Good Samaritan is about having the heart to do what Christ Himself would do. The Samaritan went over and above to ensure the beaten man was well taken care of. It was not just about care. It was also about the extent of care (I will reimburse you for any extra expense) and when it was given (when the man was beaten and in need of help). It is the Samaritan’s love for the man that made the difference. It is the heart of God within us that shows the depth of our faith in Christ.
Showing love for others is a fundamental aspect our being Christ-like. We know that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The story of The Good Samaritan begins with a very simple question to that end. “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 20:29b) Jesus makes it clear that it can be anyone. Our goal is to simply respond to that neighbor in need. Let us serve to be that neighbor for all to see the workings of Jesus within us. How do I respond when I see someone in need? What steps can I take to become more like Christ in my daily life? In what ways can I serve others more effectively, even if I have limited time or resources? My prayer is we can see opportunities to help others, and to act as Jesus would when prompted by faith. Amen.