INTRO.- ILL.- An angry lady went into a grocery store and told a clerk that she wanted a half-head of lettuce and she wanted it right now. "Get going!" she screamed at the clerk.
"But lady," said the clerk, "we don’t have half heads of lettuce." "Young man," she shrieked, "get a knife and cut a head in two." "Yes ma’am," he said, "Let me go back and talk to the manager."
He found the manager and said, "There’s a crabby woman out there who wants one-half head of lettuce." He suddenly glanced over his shoulder and there stood the woman. He quickly said, "AND HERE IS THE NICE LADY WHO WANTS THE OTHER HALF."
Brothers and sisters, what’s your attitude? Most people have an “attitude” of some kind about life: good, bad or otherwise.
ILL.- Remember the popular TV series called "The A Team"? One of the stars was B.A. Baracus. Do you know what those letter “BA” meant? BAD ATTITUDE.
ILL.- Simeon Ford, the proprietor of the Old Grand Union Hotel in New York, said, "You don’t need to know anything about a hotel to run one. You just open it up and the customers will tell you how to run it." WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THOSE WORDS?
I think he meant that most people are quick to gripe and complain about something if they don’t like it. Most of us are this way. If we see something we don’t like, we are quick to say something about it. But if we see something we like, we tend to keep our mouths shut. We tend to be more negative-oriented than positive-oriented.
Gripers and complainers have a bad attitude about life. It seems they are always looking at things in a negative way. On the other hand, people who have a good attitude about life try to focus on the good things of life and the good in people. They are generally quick to give thanks and to praise others.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? What’s your attitude about life?
ILL.- Here is a better way to view life. Because of the housing shortage near the military base where he was stationed, a young doctor and his wife and three children had to live in cramped quarters in a hotel. A friend said to the doctor’s six-year-old daughter, "Isn’t it too bad that you don’t have a home?" To which the philosophic young one replied, "Oh, we have a home; we just don’t have a house to put it in."
PROP.- In the parable/story of the good Samaritan we have three basic attitudes that people have toward others. We need to think about them during this holiday season.
1- Attitude of the robbers - stealing
2- Attitude of the priest and Levite - hoarding
3- Attitude of the Samaritan - giving
I. ATTITUDE OF THE ROBBERS - STEALING
What’s yours is mine and I’ll get it!
Luke 10:30 "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."
Brothers and sisters, there are many ways of stripping people, robbing people and leaving them half dead.
ILL.- A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The businessman said, "Just put them in an envelope and mail them to the Internal Revenue Service and write on the envelope, ‘NOW YOU HAVE EVERYTHING!’"
I know that many people feel like the federal government is ripping them off in regard to their taxes. Any theft is not good.
ILL.- One executive was telling another about the trouble he had keeping a secretary. He said, "I lost the last one, because she had so many coffee breaks that she couldn’t sleep nights."
Too many coffee breaks spell theft. It says that somebody is stealing time from their employer. We’ve all seen it done.
ILL.- Elaine was the office coordinator for the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, IL. She retired after 28 years. One reason that she retired was that she got tired of seeing people steal from the state of Illinois. She saw them steal time and many other things. She was the time-keeper at Choate Mental Health.
ILL.- Here’s a sport van news item from last year. Dec. 6th, 2002, "Mets, Glavine Said to Reach 3-Year Deal." (AP) - For more than a decade, Tom Glavine helped put the Atlanta Braves on top. Now, he’ll try to topple them.
Glavine, the most sought-after pitcher on the open market, reached agreement with the New York Mets on a three-year contract, his agent said Thursday night. Glavine was believed to have gotten a $35 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth year that could make the deal worth $42.5 million.
Glavine, 36, had spent his whole career with the Braves, winning two Cy Young Awards and posting five 20-win seasons.
Brothers and sisters, I don’t care how good the guy is, I personally don’t think he’s worth $42 million! I don’t think any ball player is worth $42 million. Of course, I also don’t think most Hollywood movie actors and actresses are worth the money they get. I CONSIDER IT ALMOST A FORM OF STEALING!
I wish that just once...just one time a ball player, actor, actress, sports figure, etc. would say, "They want to pay me $42 million dollars, but I know that I’m not worth it. I’m declining the offer. This would be stealing from people."
Brothers and sisters, I worked in the retail business for a number of years. I know about stealing. But you don’t have to work in the retail business to learn about stealing. It’s everywhere and it comes in various forms: theft of money, material items, food, time, joy, affection, love, etc. People often steal these things from others and don’t even realize it.
Eph. 4:28 "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
II. ATTITUDE OF THE PRIEST AND LEVITE - HOARDING
What’s mine is mine and I’ll keep it!
Luke 10:31-32 "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...passed by..."
Most of us think have several thoughts about the priest and Levite. They were busy. Didn’t have time. Too much church business. Had to get to church. Perhaps they were thinking, "There is always someone who is wanting something. Moochers. Pretenders. They are no good, lazy, etc."
ILL.- A preacher was annoyed that a member of his church had spent more money decorating the exterior of his house for Christmas than he’d contributed to the church all year.
The preacher told one of his deacons, “What I really resent is his HOLLY-ER-THAN-THOU-ATTITUDE.”
ILL.- The church was hard pressed for money and the preacher called a member who’d failed to tithe in some time. The preacher said, “I’m surprised that I haven’t heard from you concerning your financial obligation to the church.” The member replied, “There’s no reason to be surprised, preacher, I HAVEN’T SENT ANYTHING.”
Brothers and sisters, I want us to think in terms of not sharing with others. What’s mine is mine and I’m going to keep it.
Even though the Christmas makes some people think more generously, some people could care less about this time of the year. Some think only of themselves. They may think, "I’ve worked hard for what I have. It’s mine and I’m going to keep it and if anything, spend it on myself.”
The hoarding attitude is horrible. What does John 3:16 say? How does it read? FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE... If we love, we too will want to give. Hoarding is horrible. Not sharing is selfish. But giving is godly.
ILL.- Ragged clothes....never enough food to eat....virtually no medical attention....poor sleeping quarters....little or no time for recreation or rest....no time for family....SOUND LIKE A POOR PERSON IN TERRIBLE SHAPE? Not so. Her name is Hetty Green who at one time was the richest and most detested woman in America!
At one time Hetty Green had $100,000,000 in the bank and yet she ate crackers and cold oatmeal because she was too cheap to buy good food. She lived the last 20 years of her life with a painful hernia because she would not spend the money, which was $150 at that time, for an operation. She tried to relieve the pain by placing a stick over the hernia and binding it to her body with rags.
You will be angered to find out that her own son’s leg had to be amputated because she was too cheap to take him to a doctor. She tried for several days to get free medical attention but each doctor she went to for help recognized her as a millionaire and refused to treat the boy for free. When she was at last reconciled to paying a doctor she went to her neighborhood doctor and was told the boy’s leg would have to be amputated above the knee.
With millions of dollars in the bank, Hetty Green spent half the night searching for a lost $.2 cent postage stamp. Another time, she attempted to forge the signature of her deceased Aunt in a vain attempt to get another million dollars!
The story of Hetty Green is the story of a slave, a slave to money. She was something of a thief and definitely, a hoarder.
Matt. 16:26 "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Brothers and sisters, this time of the year more people are interested in giving, but not everyone! Some people still have the attitude, "What’s mine is mine and I’m going to keep it." They can walk right by any hurting or helpless person without giving them the time of day. They can walk in the door at Wal-Mart and not blink an eye at the bell ringers of the Salvation Army. Some people can have the church offering plate passed by them, drop in a $10 bill but think nothing about spending $50 a week to eat out. Some people can sing "Count your blessings" and not give a thought to sharing those blessings with others. Some think only of how they can keep what they have, save, get more, make more money, etc.
I Timothy 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
III. ATTITUDE OF THE SAMARITAN - GIVING
What’s mine is yours and I’ll give it!
ILL.- One Sunday morning the usher dropped the collection plate in the floor. The money flew everywhere. Coins rolled and bills floated in the air. The congregation couldn’t help but laugh so the usher explained: “I couldn’t help but drop the plate – I was just too excited. I’D NEVER SEEN A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL IN THE OFFERING BEFORE!”
I want us to think about giving. Giving is what life should be for the Christian! Giving time, affection, money, etc.
Luke 10:33ff "But a Samaritan came where the man was; when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds...." Blessed be the Samaritan! Blessed be all Samaritans!
Prov. 11:25 "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
Prov. 14:31 "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
WHEN HE SAW HIM. The Good Samaritan saw the helpless and hurting through the eyes of Jesus. He looked with compassion.
Matthew 9:36 "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without shepherd."
When our Lord looked at people He saw the deep hurt of life. If anybody knows the pain that we experience in life, He does. And Jesus doesn’t just look and wonder and say, "Well, what’s wrong with them?!" He looks with compassion and desires to bring peace where there has been pain, comfort where there has been cruelty, healing where they has been hurt.
The Good Samaritan had that same look, that same heart, that same compassion, that same love. For God so loved the world that He gave. The Samaritan so loved that he gave. He gave of himself, his time, his energy, and his resources.
ARE YOU MOVED? Are you moved when you see hurting people? Are you moved to want to remove hurt and bring healing?
ILL.- Jim Burns wrote in CHRISTIANITY TODAY, “Compassion is one of the most important character traits we can nurture in our children. Yet our culture encourages selfishness. If we want our children to develop servant hearts, we need to give them opportunities to serve. Fortunately, teenagers are usually eager to put their gifts to good use. They want to impact their world, and Christian service is a wonderful way to help them quench that craving.
“Last year, I went with my two oldest daughters on a church mission trip to Mexico. They were lukewarm about participating after they heard that there was no guarantee of blow dryers and that we were bringing our own toilet paper!
“The first night I received mixed reviews from the girls. They didn’t like the food and they didn’t like the bugs. (I didn’t like the food or the bugs either.)
“But by noon the next day we had fallen in love with the village and its children. The food wasn’t any better and the bugs had actually gotten worse, but it didn’t seem to matter as much. After a couple more days of leading Vacation Bible School and putting in hours of hard labor to build a church, we wanted to stay longer. We were the first to sign up for the next mission trip.
“What happened? Our hearts were broken with what breaks the heart of God.”
Brothers and sisters, is your heart broken with what breaks the heart of God? God knows, but do you know?
ILL.- Someone said, “We cannot heal the wounds we do not feel.” Have you no feeling for the hurting and helpless?
Our Good Samaritan ministry should reach out to all people. All people who are hurting.
Gal. 6:9-10 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Brothers and sisters, we are here to be Good Samaritans in any form. God put us here to demonstrate mercy, compassion and minister to others, any time, any place, etc.
This time of the year should cause us to think more of others. To think more of others, and less of us. To think more of what we can do for others.
CONCLUSION---------------------------------------
ILL.- An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bless others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?"
Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Brothers and sisters, our attitude should be that of the Good Samaritan. It should be that of giving to others, any time, any place, any method. The giving attitude is the God-attitude.
