To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

 

 

   In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho , when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  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, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins 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 10:30-37 NIV

 

In Jesus’ story of the good Samaritan, He was illustrating how you and I should meet others’ needs.  This poor Jew was lying on the side of the road, beaten and robbed and naked, while priests and Levites and probably many other people stepped around him and passed him by.  Then the Samaritan (one of those nasty Gentiles!) came by, picked the man up, cared for him, found him lodging and a doctor, and left money to make sure he would be cared for after the Samaritan was gone.  I’ll bet the Jews that passed him immediately put him on their prayer lists!  Big deal!  The man was in dire straights.  He needed help!  True, he also needed prayers… but actual, physical help was what he needed first.  And it took the Samaritan to take care of things the way Jesus would have us do for others.

 

If you’ll notice, Jesus always took the Samaritan approach, tending to a person’s physical needs first, and then the spiritual.  If a person was sick, He healed him first, then talked to him about spiritual things.  When He fed the 5,000, He was getting rid of the growling stomachs so that people could concentrate on the things He had to say.

 

So what about you and me?  When you see people around you that need help, what is your response?  Do you put them on your prayer list and leave it at that?  Or do you do what you can to help?  Sometimes help is merely a good shoulder to lean on in time of need.  Sometimes it’s money.  Sometimes it’s using your talents and energy to help.  Extending a helping hand is an act of mercy.  Make the Samaritan attitude a part of your life.

 

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?   James 2:15-16 NIV

 

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  1 John 3:17 NIV