To be neighborly, you need to know…
What is the requirement of your God?
“A certain lawyer stood up and put Christ to the test saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ Christ said to him, ‘You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.’” Luke 10: 25-28
Who is your neighbor?
“But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied and said, ‘A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down on the road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” Luke 10: 29-32
Neighborliness should override prejudice
“But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” Luke 10: 33-34
Why you don’t have to solve all problems.
“On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’” Luke 10:35
What being neighborly means
“’Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into robbers’ hands?’ He said, ‘the one who showed mercy toward him.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” Luke 10:36-37
WHAT?
A neighbor is not necessarily someone who lives next door. The Samaritan had never met the traveler who had been robbed and wounded.
Three criteria:
- he was someone whose path had crossed that of the Samaritan;
- he had a real crisis;
- the Samaritan had the ability to meet that need.
SO WHAT?
Are you a Good Samaritan in our community? If the church closes, will the community miss us? How to be a Samaritan:
- Find the real needs
- Do something
Helping others in a crisis is never convenient and seldom without cost!