What? A Friend We Have in Jesus?
Luke 10:30-37
Best known parable of the Bible…the Good Samaritan.
v. 30a a very rugged, rocky pass, and perfect for thieves as there were so many places to hide behind rocks and corners! Robbery was so common on this road between Jerusalem and Jericho that the 21 mile stretch of road there became known as “the way of blood”.
v. 30b Jesus’ graphic description…
joke—s.s. teacher told story overly graphic: hit ‘em in the eye and it hung out of socket/blood poured out his nose/broken teeth/cracked skull and you could see his brains! Then she asked the class what they would have done if they passed by [hoping to solicit the response of help] and a precious little girl raised her hand and said, “I’da throwed up!”
If you were broken down on the side of the road, you’d be glad to have a preacher come by. In our text, a priest and a Levite came by, and neither offered to help. Then, to drive the point home, Jesus said that a Samaritan came by.
[despised/half breed of Jew and Gentile/hated/in those days a Jew would go miles out of their way not to even walk thru Samaria]
The Samaritan helped…not only the man’s immediate needs, but also $ to the innkeeper to meet the future needs of that man!
Jesus asked, which of these was a neighbor or friend to that man?
This story reveals 3 philosophies of life [attitudes] clearly are displayed:
[every person in this room fits into one of these philosophies!]
One is displayed by the thieves, one by the priest and levite, and a 3rd by the Good Samaritan.
Thieve’s attitude:
“What’s thine [yours] is mine, and I’ll take it if I can!”
[rarely does this attitude result in armed robbery, as in this case]
However, this philosophy can be found quite often…
Businessperson who is willing to lie to push a deal thru…
Student who cheats in school…
Gambler who hopes to win from others’ losses…
The great American dream has changed. It used to be “just give me an opportunity…
To go to school and I’ll work hard/sweat/labor, and earn something.
Today the American dream is “oh God, please help me pick the right 6 numbers!”
The thieves’ philosophy says, I’ll take advantage if the opportunity arises!
Ill.—clerk gives too much change? ‘hey, it’s THEIR mistake!’ or ‘they’re overpriced anyway’, ‘God is rewarding me w/ this!’, ‘finders keepers, losers weepers’, ‘what’s thine is mine, and I’ll take it if I can!’
3 causes for this attitude:
1. Covetousness – Like any other sin, stealing begins in the heart.
Joshua 7 – Achan’s sin at Jericho [saw/coveted/took/hid, and 36 men died as a result!]
Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth…
Covetousness leads to greed, and the philosophy: ‘what’s thine is mine and I’ll take it if I can!’
2. Jealousy – not only can we covet someone else’s treasures, but also their talents/abilities/recognition
[saul jealous of david…saul has slain his thousands, david his 10 thousands!]
I Sam. 18:9
And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
“That’s my praise he’s receiving!…Hey David, what’s yours is mine!”
There’s no limit to what we can accomplish at GBC if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit!
[faithful nursery/children’s workers/painters/grounds-keepers/maintenance/sound booth]
But some want only the spotlight…and jealousy leads to envy: ‘what’s yours in mine!’
3. Laziness –
Prov. 21:25-26
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long…
joke—lazy football player in college/refused to study/copied off guy next to him in class—was quite intelligent/got caught on question #10 when the honor student wrote, I don’t know, and the football player put, “me neither!”
May all of us parents teach our kids that the world does not owe them a living!
“too many people are itching for things they’re not willing to scratch for!” And laziness leads to indifference.
Let’s dispel this attitude: what’s yours is mine…
2nd philosophy…religious leader’s attitude:
[walked right by]
“What’s mine is mine, and I’ll keep it if I can!”
Cause:
Selfishness – which says, I’ll get all I can, can all I get, and then sit on the can!
--too busy?/afraid to get involved?/act like you didn’t see?!
The people who are the most negative, critical, miserable also happen to be very much self-centered/in their own little world, thinking more about self than anyone else!
HOW TO BE SELFISH
Think about yourself.
Talk about yourself.
Use "I" as often as possible.
Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others.
Listen greedily about what people say about you.
Be suspicious.
Expect to be appreciated.
Be jealous and envious.
Be sensitive to slights.
Never forgive criticism.
Trust nobody but yourself.
Insist on consideration and proper respect.
Demand agreement on your own views on everything.
Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them.
Never forget a service you have rendered.
Be on the lookout for a good time for yourself.
Shirk your duties if you can.
Do as little as possible for others.
Love yourself supremely.
Be selfish.
Tombstone inscription: “here lies a miser who lived for himself, and cared for nothing but gathering wealth, now where he is or how how he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares!”
Thieve’s mindset: what’s yours is mine…
Religious leaders: what’s mine is mine…
Then there’s the Good Samaritan’s attitude:…
“What’s mine is thine, and you can have it if you need it!”
What a joy to give to somebody something that you have and that they need!…esp. when it involves sacrifice.
Ill.—dying boy who got transfusion from little brother… “how long ‘til I die?”
What’s mine is thine!
That’s precisely what Jesus Christ did for us! We need something which we don’t have—perfect righteousness!
Re 21:27 – [speaking of heaven]
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth…
God will not allow sin into heaven, only perfect righteousness!
Romans 3
3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…
Doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of good, but not good enough!
Isa 64:6 -
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…
Jesus has what you need! died on the cross in your place, for your sins, to offer you forgiveness from your sins…before dying for you He lived the perfect life you have not been able to, and now offers you His perfect righteousness in exchange for your sin, why?
Because His attitude was: ‘what’s mine is thine…and you can have it if you need it!’
If you have not been born again, then you need it!
Joh 3:7 -
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus is not just a good way to get to heaven, or the best way to heaven…Jesus said…
Joh 14:6 -
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus offers you a gift—of forgiveness/of righteousness
Jn. 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
“What’s mine is thine, and you can have it if you need it!” Do you need it? You can have it!
