Luke 10:25-37, NLT
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that God did not intend for our lives to be centered on ourselves. The Good Samaritan was a bridge builder. He crossed over a divide between Jew and Gentile. He crossed over all the prejudices that existed there. He demonstrated the love that Christ asks us to show.
The Priest and Rabbi are wall builders - they keep their distance from those who needed them the most. When we build bridges to the community we create more opportunities to share the good news with others.
Three Requirements for Building Bridges
-Be Willing to Risk. What did the Good Samaritan Risk? Rejection, Money loss, Being trapped by the ‘bait’ of a wounded man. Building bridges is a risky business. Would it be risky for you to speak to a friend about Jesus? What about caring for those we are not sure we can help? What about giving an undeserved gift to someone who might be ungrateful or offended or who may misuse the gift? If we let fear keep us from risk, we can never build bridges.
-Be Flexible. The Good Samaritan adjusted the plans for his day in order to help someone who needed him. Bridge builders know there is no way to sync the kingdom to our timing. God’s plans are higher than ours! Who has He put in your way today that you were too busy to talk to?
-Be Interested. Our interest in bringing the Gospel to anyone open to hearing it is fueled by our interest in people. The Pharisee and Rabbi were wall builders - they wanted to keep people away, keep the undeserving out, and preserve their comfort. The Good Samaritan showed the greatest interest in a fellow human being who was beaten and who needed him.
How To Build a Bridge This Week
-Know that God will place people in your path! Be open to new faces! Be observant of the needs of others. Be a good listener.
-Join together with others for service. Service organizations always need help. Individuals can get together to do great things! Working with others will keep you encouraged and accountable!
-Exercise Wisdom. Use your talents - focus on the things you do well. Realize that no one can do everything - everyone can’t reach everyone. Encourage others in their service and outreach. Do your best to help those who are truly in need, though this discernment is not always possible.
Conclusion
Jesus gave this story about the Good Samaritan in response to a question: Who is my Neighbor? The second greatest command is to love my neighbor. Building bridges and serving others is not an optional matter for Christians, it is a part of who we are. We are most like Jesus when we are offering service to others. (“Go and do likewise”) The Kingdom of God unfolds before bridge builders, taking them to places they never dreamed, and touching the hearts of people they never thought possible. God has been building bridges all along. He built one to you. He wants us to build one to the world around us.
Note: This devotional message was from a sermon I first preached in Pascagoula, Mississippi at the Central Church of Christ. The date on my notes is April 24, 2005. That is four months before Hurricane Katrina decimated our community (August 29, 2005). Little did I know that our little church would become a massive bridge-building effort that impacted our city in an amazing way. We took many risks, had to learn to be flexible as a church, and we had a newfound interest in the people living in the streets and blocks around our building. I still give thanks to God for all of the Katrina Heroes who came to the Coast to love and help us. I’ll never forget the leadership of David and Elaine Kilbern who would not quit loving and serving. Oh, the stories I could tell. - John Dobbs
“When we build bridges to the community, we create more oooo to share the Good News with others.” So good! A great reminder, John, and practical tips for doing so. Being flexible has been the hardest lesson for me to learn, and I still have to lay down my expectations every day and look for the ways He wants me to stray from the schedule.
2005--I will never forget. 1) in May was when I got to meet Dr. Mead in person. 2) we got to experience Katrina. 3) I got my first passport! It was surely good to meet you! What a wonderful way to spend a morning.