BEYOND WORDS: WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR

2024-05-26

Charles Billingsley

The Parable of the Good Samaritan :  Luke 10:25-37

“Real strength has to do with helping others.” – Fred Rogers 

The issue of being a neighbor came up in Jesus’ ministry, too.  

You’ll find the story in Luke 10:25-37.  

Luke 10:25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving himhalf dead.

 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 

Same story here.  The Levites were assistants to the Priests. thy handles the business of the temple, even led in the music. 

The Levite was probably following not far behind.  And so, he observes the actions of his Priest, and the follows suit.  If the Priest doesn’t stop, then I probably shouldn’t either.  

No time to serve another, because they were busy serving God.  

What they failed to remember….what WE fail to remember… is that 

In serving others, you ARE serving God.  

Meanwhile, the man still lays there in pain and agony. 

And btw….the priest and the Levite would have been both Jews. ignoring their fellow Jewish citizen. 

If you want to find out who your neighbor is, then be one yourself.  Stop worrying about WHO your neighbor is, and start asking HOW can I help them?  How can I serve them?  How can I share God’s love with them.  

It is not identifying or defining who your neighbor is that causes you to love.  But rather it is the love that you give that makes you a good neighbor! 

But there is a cost to show this kind of love. To be a Good Neighbor – is more than just knowing Jake from State Farm. 

It is going to take some effort!  

Look at all this Samaritan did!  10 different things! 

A.  To be a Good Neighbor is often an interruption 

B.  To be a Good Neighbor is usually an inconvenience 

None of what this man did helped his own personal business ventures. And none of it was convenient in any way! 

C.  To be a Good Neighbor will require an investment 

To Be a good neighbor, we can use the Samaritan as our inspiration.   

Cross the street  –   Open your eyes to the needs around you 

Give up your seat – Open your hands and give generously

Meet the need –       Open your heart and show compassion

Plant the seed –       Open their ears to the truth and their hearts to the Love of God

Even more so: “The Lord is testing constantly the authenticity of our love for Him in our practical caring for others.  Our response to them is our response to Him. ”

– Lloyd Ogilvie 

“All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors–in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.” – Mr. Rogers

Now in return, He wants us to:

 Be the InnKeeper.  

“Do all the good you can, to all the folks you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, for as long as ever you can….for Jesus’ sake.” – David Jeremiah  

Just like that Samaritan, He is coming back, but until He does, let us put our love for God on display by how we love others – especially those in need.  

Who’s your neighbor?   Anyone and everyone God puts in your path that you can help, serve, bless, and love.  

Is there someone in your pathway even now, that you’ve stepped over or walked by that you need to be a neighbor to?  

I promise you, if you will open your heart to the interruptions and the inconvenience of being the neighbor God wants you to be, and if you are willing to make an investment into the lives of others, I promise you that God will fill your days with incredible opportunities to change the lives of those around you.    

Open your eyes.

Open your heart

Open your hands

And it just may open their ears….