Have you seen that show, “What Would You Do?” It’s a hidden camera, social experiment type of show. The host observes and comments on how ordinary people behave when they are confronted with dilemmas that require them to take action or to walk by and mind their own business. I remember watching an episode where the waitress was berated by her boss in front of customers who had no idea they were on this show. I watched, thinking, “I would definitely say something and stop this horrible boss from acting this way toward a wonderful waitress who did her job well.”
It’s easy to sit on my couch and make such a claim, but if that were me, would I be able to do that? Honestly, I’m kind of scared to find out. I’m scared that I wouldn’t intervene. That I would just sit in my booth and mind my own business because why? Because I don’t want them yelling at me? Because I don’t want to deal with the drama? Because it’s their problem, not mine?
It’s easy to sit on my couch and make such a claim, but if that were me, would I be able to do that? Honestly, I’m kind of scared to find out. I’m scared that I wouldn’t intervene. That I would just sit in my booth and mind my own business because why? Because I don’t want them yelling at me? Because I don’t want to deal with the drama? Because it’s their problem, not mine?
He has called all of us to serve others because He served us.
This past Sunday, we continued our summer series, “The Parables of Jesus.” Pastor Tim shared my favorite parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
– Luke 10:30-34
I always think poorly of the priest and Levite whenever I read this parable. How horrible are they for not stopping and helping this person? However, I have never stopped to think about why they decided not to. Pastor Tim gave some suggestions as to why they didn’t. Maybe they thought it wasn’t their problem. It could have cost them too much. They didn’t know what to do. Maybe they just didn’t care. Whatever the reason, the reality is they looked at their neighbor without compassion.
The Samaritan did the opposite. He saw this other person’s problem as his own and was willing to pay the cost. He knew what to do, and he cared. He showed compassion to his neighbor because he wanted to be a good neighbor.
R.H. Stein says, “Jesus indicated that one should worry less about who a neighbor is than about being a good neighbor.”
I’m afraid that most times, I identify as the priest and Levite. I can come up with reasons not to help my neighbor. I can view them in a way that isn’t filled with compassion. I can be selfish in my thinking and my actions. That’s not what God asks of us. He has called all of us to serve others because He served us.
Every day is an opportunity for us to live like the Samaritan. I encourage you to show care and compassion to the people you interact with. It could be as simple as opening a door for someone or giving an old friend a call and praying with them.
Let’s be mindful of others and consider how we can be better neighbors.
The Samaritan did the opposite. He saw this other person’s problem as his own and was willing to pay the cost. He knew what to do, and he cared. He showed compassion to his neighbor because he wanted to be a good neighbor.
R.H. Stein says, “Jesus indicated that one should worry less about who a neighbor is than about being a good neighbor.”
I’m afraid that most times, I identify as the priest and Levite. I can come up with reasons not to help my neighbor. I can view them in a way that isn’t filled with compassion. I can be selfish in my thinking and my actions. That’s not what God asks of us. He has called all of us to serve others because He served us.
Every day is an opportunity for us to live like the Samaritan. I encourage you to show care and compassion to the people you interact with. It could be as simple as opening a door for someone or giving an old friend a call and praying with them.
Let’s be mindful of others and consider how we can be better neighbors.
Posted in Devotional
Tagged with parables, the parables of jesus, Good Samaritan, neighbor, adam etris, better neighbors, tim haring
Tagged with parables, the parables of jesus, Good Samaritan, neighbor, adam etris, better neighbors, tim haring
Recent
Archive
2023
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Categories
Tags
1 Timothy 4:3-4
1 corinthians 13
3 tips
Barb
Bible
Christ centered friendships
Christ-centered friendships
Christ
Control
David
Deuteronomy 31:8
Elijah
Gideon
God's Word
God's faithfulness
God's will
God\'s Word
God\'s will
God\\\'s will
God\\\\\\\'s will
Gods Word
Gods voice
Gods will
God
Good Samaritan
Isaiah 41
James 1:22
James 4:14
Jesus is coming
Jesus
Jonathan
Live at Peace
Matthew 26:38-39
Philippians 2
Psalms
Romans 6:9
Scripture
Significant Others
Talented
Word of God
You Say
a mother's prayer
a mother\'s prayer
a mothers prayer
abandon
abby conner
acts 1:8
acts 2:42-47
acts
adam etris
adam
adulteror
advent
andrew archer
andrew
angels sing
anger
anguish
anxiety
apostles
appreciation
archer
arch
are you prepared
art of neighboring
attributes
austin michels
austin
authorities
authority
baptism
barabbas
barb barnhart
barnhart
be a friend
be still
be strong and courageous
beauty from ashes
becoming fearless
betrayal
better neighbors
better
be
brandy gibson
brandy
bruce lane
bruce
cancel culture
cancel
care
carols
celebrate others
christianity
christian
christmas
church defined
church design
church
circles
clinging to jesus
colossians 1:13
community
compassion
concentric circles
conflict
connection
courage
created for community
crisis in israel
cross
crowd
cultivate the soil
daughter
death
debt
delaney
deuteronomy 31:6
devotional
devotion
discernment
do not fear
doers
don't panic
don\'t panic
do
early church
easter
elderly
empathy
encouragement
end times
ephesians 3:14-23
ephesians5:21
eternal impact
eternal life
eternal security
eternity
etris
exhausted
extended family
face to face
faithful in the small things
faithfulness
faith
family
famous last words
father
fear less series
fear less
fearless
fear
forgiveness
forgiven
forgive
forgiving
forsaken
foundation
four tips
free from sin
freedom
freely given
free
friendships
friendship
friends
friend
garden of gethsemane
generosity
generous
get ready
gibson
gifts
give thanks
gloria
good works
gospel
government
grace and truth
grace hill
grace
grateful
gratitude
great commission
greed
grief
grieve with others
groups
haring
he has come
he will be called
heart
heaven
hell
helping
hill
holy week
homecoming
hope
huggins
ian young
ian
identity
immovable
in all things
in christ
inspired
invitation
israel
jamie huggins
jamie
jill wargo
jill
john 8:1-11
john 8:10-11
john
josh rhodes
josh
joy
judas
judgemental
judgement
judge
katie lemley
katie
key relationships
kim sheets
kim
kingdom of heaven
kinsman redeemer
lane
last supper
legacy
lemley
light of the world
light
listening
live generously
logos
love one another
love
loyalty
luke 10:42
luke 23:34
made new
marriage
martha
matthew 22:37-39
matthew 23:24
matthew 6:3-4
mediator
melissa parker
melissa
mercy
michelle lemley
michelle trimmer
michelle
michels
money
neighbor
new family
new year
new
o holy night
overcome evil with good
parables
parable
parenting
parents
parent
parker
peacemaker
peace
people of god
people
persistence
philippians 4:6-7
philippians
point of church
point
possessions
power of the past
pray like paul
prayer life
prayer plan
prayer
pray
prepare
promises of God
provision
purpose
quality time
race
read
reconciliation
recreated
redeemed
redeemer
rejoice
relationship with God
relationships
relationship
religion
religious leaders
remember
response
resurrection
retaliation
return
revenge
rhodes
riches
roger sealey
roger
role model
romans 12:12
romans 12:15
romans
rules
salvation
sealey
second coming
secure
selfish
separation
sermon on the mount
serve Jesus
serve others
serve
serving others
serving
set free
shame
share the gospel
share the truth
sharing the good news
sheep and goats
sheets
signs
sing
sin
social media
sower
speak
spiritual gifts
spiritual leaders
spiritual relationships
stand firm
still
strained
straining out gnats and swallowing camels
strength
submit
support
take time
talents
thankfulness
thanksgiving
thanks
the dishonest manager
the good samaritan
the lost coin
the lost sheep
the lost son
the parables of jesus
the persistent widow
the plot
the point of church
the primary purpose of the church
the prodigal son
the purpose of the church
the rich fool
the sheep and goats
the sower
the talents
the ten virgins
the two foundations
the wedding banquet
the word of God
the word
through thick and thin
throught thick and thin
tim haring
tim
treasure
tribulation
triggered
trimmer
truthiness
truth
two foundations
two lies and the truth
ukraine
unbelievers
uncertainty
unclean
victorious
victory
volunteer
wargo
wealth
wedding feast
weep
what's the point?
what\'s the point?
what\\\'s the point?
what\\\\\\\'s the point?
what\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s the point?
whats the point
whatsthepoint
when we pray
who am i
who i am
who we are
work
worry
wronged
you are forgiven
young