Luke 10:25-37

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii  and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

The Samaritan was a neighbor by compassionately helping the traveler not in words, but in deed. John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” If the Samaritan had talked to the traveler asking him what happened and what he did that got him in that predicament, the traveler may have refused help. So, part of being neighborly is serving in action, not words.

Genesis 2:18 says, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” What this verse implies is that I am a helper fit for Paul and that Paul needs my help. However, I find that I am often like the priest or Levite walking on the other side of the street too busy to be bothered to help Paul or I am like the Samaritan walking towards Paul to help, but instead of helping him in action, I “help” using too many words; often critical words. Oh Lord, help me. I want to be a wife who is like the Samaritan; a wife filled with compassion; a wife who is not too busy or too wordy; a wife who puts love in action; a wife who is a good neighbor.

The traveler, in a sense, was also a neighbor by accepting the Samaritan’s help. He could have pridefully refused help and chosen to die rather than be helped by a Samaritan. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” So, part of being neighborly is a willingness to accept help when it’s offered.

There have been times where I have been like the traveler in desperate need of help and have pridefully refused the help when it’s been offered. Years ago, when I was on bedrest in pregnancy, a dear friend offered to pay someone to come clean my house, but I flat-out refused. My friend told me that it would bless her immensely if I would accept the help. After some time, I relented and allowed a precious girl to come and clean my house. I want to be like the traveler willing to accept help when it’s offered. You want to come and clean my house? I will say “Yes!”

Blessings to you,

Heather