Read Luke 10:25-37
The story of the Good Samaritan is one we all know very well and one of those Bible stories that most people, even those with no faith or no church connections, are aware of. But even though it is well known I wonder how often we have paused to consider how the ‘main parties’ in this story viewed the traveller in this story. Read the passage again and reflect on this.
- Staring with the lawyer who asked the question. He initially starts well with his answer to Jesus response to his question, quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He understood the law demanded complete devotion to God and love for our neighbour.
- But in continuing this discussion what does this reveal? That he now looked upon the traveller as a subject of conversation to be discussed?
- What about the thieves? The traveler presented them with an opportunity. He was someone to be exploited for their own gain.
- The Priest? Seeing the traveller now lying wounded he could and should have helped, but in so doing he would have made himself ritually unclean. So the wounded man was a problem to avoid.
- The Levite? Again he could and should have helped. But again the wounded man was a problem to avoid.
- What about the innkeeper? Yes he helped take care of the man, but was paid to do so. Would he have done so without any recompense?
- Then we have the Samaritan. He stopped and he helped, at cost to himself. To him the wounded man was a fellow human being in need of love, care and attention – and he offered that freely.
We all like to think that we would be the Good Samaritan in this story but the reality is that very often, when we are confronted with a situation concerning the needs of others, our first thought, perhaps without fully appreciating it, is how taking action will impact upon us and we can learn a few things from this passage.
- How easy we at times find it to justify our lack of love.
- Our neighbour is any of God’s children in need.
- True love means meeting a person at their point of need and freely giving of yourself, your time, your energy, your resources to help.
Read Luke 10:38-42
Who are we more like – Mary or Martha? Who should we be more like?
What do these few verses teach us?
- Are we so busy doing things for Jesus that we’re not spending time in His company as we should?
- Are we in danger of let our service becoming self-serving?
The reality is that we probably need to be a bit like both Mary and Martha, however unless we spend time in devotion to God, talking and listening to Him, our service to Him will never be as it should be.
Lord help us to learn the lessons of these verses. To learn to spend time with You that we may find the inspiration we need to serve You as You have called us and to share Your love in all we say and do. Aned we ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.
Question Of The Day: After what event did Miriam lead others to praise God?