Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
What a fantastic question to ask the Lord. I remember thinking about this as a young girl. Is my neighbor only those whom I share a fence with? Or is it also the people that I share an alley with? As I got a bit older and and headed to school so started to understand a little more, I now wondered if my neighbor were those whose desks were near mine. Or did it include the entire class? Moving into my first home was difficult because all the houses had 6 foot brick walls separating us. So now a “neighbor” is someone you never see, as we all rush off to work and other engagements. Who is my neighbor?
Christ gives us a story that we all know well, but from this story we can learn so much. Let’s review the GOOD SAMARITAN.
Luke 10: 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, 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 on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
If we break this down we can clearly see WHO our neighbors are.
Our neighbors are not just those that are easy to like, but they are those that are different from us as well. This could mean they are different in style, language, culture, or religion. They could be different in interest, hobbies, and dreams. They could be different athletic ability, or career choice. It even goes further, he also wants us to include those who have been rejected, ignored, misunderstood, and bullied. He wants us to step out of our comfort zone and seek out those who are wounded. Sometimes these wounds may be physical, but more often than not, these wounds will be internal. We are to comfort those whom stand in need of comfort. We are to enjoy and appreciate those who have been left out, but have so much to offer. We are to stand up for those who others forget, gossip about, or belittle.
“If we are truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we will reach out in love and understanding to all of our neighbors at all times.” -M. Russell Ballard
The next thing we learn from the parable is how to be a good neighbor. The Samaritan, whom I am sure was busy and had his own schedule to follow, chose to stop, unlike the two previous bystanders. He did not only stop and check on the wounded man, but he bound his wounds, and gave him a drink. Then he transported him to a hotel so that the stranger could heal and get better in a bed with good accommodations. Knowing that the man had been robbed and had nothing, the Samaritan paid for the lodging as well as gave his word to come back through town and pay for any other services that the man needed. Christ is teaching us that to be a neighbor is to go the extra mile. It’s to be aware of what is really needed and then find ways to help. He is asking us to step out of our comfort zone, and the set aside our own selves and help others the way we would want to be taken care of. He is asking us to be like Him.
As I read this story and think about what the Lord is telling us, I feel like he is asking us to look at our lives, and make adjustments that are hard. For some it could be reaching out to those we don’t like, for others it could be helping those that we are the closest to, even in our own homes. Jesus asks us to be kind and loving to everyone one. No exceptions.
“Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. … Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. … Speak your love and then speak it again” -Howard W. Hunter
That is the weekly challenge: BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
-Sherri Jorgensen
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