Donation or Duty?
Luke 10:25-37[1]
11-28-04
Intro
The story of the Good Samaritan—a powerful reminder of how we are to respond to the pain and needs of those around us. Most of us are familiar with the story in our text. Most of us want to respond like the Samaritan and not like the priest and Levite. But how do we prepare ourselves for that kind of response? What went into the priest’s decision to avoid the problem? What was behind the Samaritan’s choice to inconvenience himself and help the man in need? No one acts out of a pure vacuum. We make our choices based upon attitudes already established before the crisis—our presuppositions, our world-view, our mindset and way of viewing things and people. That’s why we want to step behind the story this morning and explore the thinking that goes into these kind of decisions. I want to suggest two key areas of understanding that will strongly influence the way we respond to the next person in need that we encounter.
I. Attitudes toward my personal Resources
In 1 Cor. 4:7 Paul asks the question, “What do you have that you did not receive?”
The air I breathe is a gift from God. The strength to get up and work each day is a gift from God. The ability to learn and reason and solve problems is a gift from God. In Deut 8:18 Moses said to Israel, "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...” He is the One Who gives you the power to get it in the first place. Is there anything I have in my possession that is mine independent of the generosity of God? When we take time to think about it we all know that nothing has come into our lives independent of God. It all ultimately comes from Him—our money, our ability, our strength.
Paul even takes that thought a step further two chapters later when he writes (1 Cor. 6:19), “...you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Not only are all my possessions the rightful property of God, but I myself am not my own. An awesome price was paid by
God for my redemption—the precious blood of Jesus.[2]
I doubt anyone here would disagree with all that. But there is a reason that Moses and Paul had to remind God’s people of these realities. There is the danger that even though we know it is all God’s and we are only stewards of what He has placed in our hands—as a practical matter we would lose sight of that and begin to think: “It’s my money, I’ll do what I want to with it. I earned it and I have the right to spend it however I choose. It’s my life, I’ll pursue the goals that I want to pursue. I’ll spend my...my...my time the way I want to spend it.”
I think perhaps that kind of thinking was in the mind of the priest and Levite in our story as they walked around a person in need. I think they were very glad they were not one of the degenerates who beat that poor man and robbed him. What a horrible thing for someone to do. Thank God they knew the difference between right and wrong and would never do anything like that. Perhaps they would never do anything like that. But as far as them knowing the difference between right and wrong—that might be debatable. I’m afraid their definition of right and wrong was lacking somewhere, either in the understanding or in the willingness to simply do what is right.
“... to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Did the priest and Levite know that it was the right thing to do to stop and help the victim of this mugging? Down deep in their conscience I think they did. But they had developed a way of thinking that excused themselves from much that conscience would require. For example, family responsibility to aging parents is clearly taught in Scripture. Yet these religious people had developed a way to exempt themselves from that kind of burden. In Mark 7:9-13 Jesus told the Pharisees, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ’Honor your father and your mother’; and, ’He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ’If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban" -- ’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
That is the terrible danger of religion. If we do not guard our relationship with God—if we do not keep our hearts tender toward Him, we will develop an outward form of godliness with no reality at the center of it.[3] We will develop a way of going through the motions of religion and respectability—our lips will continue to draw near to God—but our hearts will drift far from Him.[4] That was the condition of the priest and Levite in our text.
It is a common reality amongst good church people today. I dare say that the average person sitting somewhere in Church this morning agrees in principle that he is not his own, that every minute, every second of his life really belongs to God. If he thought about it long enough he would agree that his money is really not his to do with as he pleases—not even the 90% after the tithe. But, that’s not the way he lives his life. He may have come into a revelation of tithing. That may be the first check he writes when he receives his pay—but as he writes his tithe check he is saying in his heart, “God here is one for You and nine for me—bless my 90% so that I don’t miss the 10% I gave you.”
It’s better than keeping the full 100% and leaving God out altogether. But it still fall way short of the way things really are.
Did you do God a favor when you gave that big offering to the church? Not really, in reality you did yourself a big favor by stamping out greed before it smothered the life out of you. In reality, as a good steward you just put God’s money where He told you to put it. Did you do God a favor when you volunteered to teach a children’s class? Or in reality was that small piece of your life simply invested where God told you to invest it.
Can you imagine what church would be like if everyone of us were thinking biblically concerning our time and money? Repairing the parking lot would be as simple as writing one check out of the general fund. Missionaries could spend their whole time in the harvest field instead of half of it trying to persuade God’s people to invest in souls. Churches would have the state of the art equipment and be fully staffed. But then again they might not even need all that staff because everybody would be seeking first the kingdom of God and that would mean time thrown away on other things could be invested in the needs of people.
Does God give pastors and teachers and evangelists to do the work of the ministry? The answer may shock some people. The answer is no! According to Ephesians 4:12, the apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastor-teachers are given for the equipping of the saints so that the congregation as a whole can do the work of the ministry. That means when you know someone is sick or in financial need or has some other need, it may not be enough to just tell the pastor about it. It may be that God has put that need before you so that you can do something about it. I have found that the people who complain most about the church’s failure in benevolence are usually the least benevolent people. What they really want is for an institution to take care of it so that they are not confronted with the problem. It is very tempting for me to shift my responsibilities to a nebulous thing called the church—forgetting that the church is me and others like me.
In our story three men were confronted with a problem. It happened to each of them by chance—but the chance encounters were entirely under the direction and control of the Lord Almighty. There were thousands of people in that region that did not come upon this man in need. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was relatively deserted. That’s why thieves felt they could get away with their robbery without any witnesses. But God did arrange it so that these three would encounter the need. When I encounter a need, that is my first clue that God may expect me to do something about it. It doesn’t mean that I can solve every problem I know about. It does mean that I may be called upon by the Lord to contribute to the solution. It does mean that I turn my heart to heaven and say to God, “How do You want me to respond to this need?”
I believe the Samaritan had the same excuses for not responding that the priest and Levite had. It is never hard to find an excuse. Everybody is busy doing something. Everybody is going somewhere. This Samaritan encountered the need “as he journeyed”, as he was on his way to somewhere. No doubt there were things to do and people to see when he got there. Why does one person stop and another walk to the other side of the street? Both perceive the need. Both are busy doing something. But our text says something very specific about this Samaritan. Luke 10:33 “And when he saw him, he had compassion.”
That is the second great factor in how I will respond to hurting people.
II. Attitudes toward the Needs of Others
His attitude toward the person in need was no doubt different from the priest and Levite. What kind of thoughts went through the minds of this priest and Levite that hardened them toward this poor man’s pain? We can’t know for sure but there are certain thoughts that we have entertained at times. Perhaps they thought about how this wounded man may have gotten himself into all that trouble. Maybe he was one of the thieves and fell out of favor with the gang and got what he deserved. Maybe this was the lesson he deserved and needed. Or maybe he had just been foolish traveling alone. If he had listened to good advice this never would have happened. I’m glad I took the advice I was given.
Do you see how going down the wrong train of thought sooths the conscience and avoids the real issue? It’s one thing to think about what this man should have done. It is quite another to think about what I should do right here right now. Judging from the lawyers conversation with Jesus in our text--they may have been wondering if this was someone whom they could correctly consider their neighbor. Was he a Jew or a Samaritan? Was he a good man or a bad man? Was he a church member or an infidel? Isn’t it interesting that in His story Jesus answers none of that about the man? The lawyer wants to know in verse 29, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ story lets him know that’s not the issue. The issue is not, what kind of man is this victim? The issue is, what kind of person am I? The question should not be, “And who is my neighbor?” The question should be what kind of neighbor am I? Jesus simply says it was “a certain man.”
In Gal 6:9 & 10 we read, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Don’t grow weary in doing good. Why is that a possibility? Because people don’t always appreciate what you do or even recognize it. In fact, some may be upset that you didn’t do even more. Because the reward for doing good does not immediately follow the act of kindness. In fact, there is usually a significant time between sowing and reaping. If you’re stopping to help the other person—if you’re sacrificing time and money for others, do not become weary. Keep showing compassion. Keep giving. Why, because in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” There is a priority on helping the godly but not to the exclusion of others. “As we have opportunity”—opportunity consists of the need encountered and resources to invest—resources of time and/or money. Those are two things none of us ever feel we have enough of. That’s why my attitude toward those resources is crucial. If I say those are mine to do with as I please—most of it will be spent on me and mine. If I know that I am only a steward of every penny and every second, then I ask my Heavenly Father what He wants me to do with His money that I am holding and His redeemed servant, me. The currency of our lives is time. In fact, money is generally speaking time rewarded. We make money by investing our time—our lives into something. Time is the essential thing. It is your life. And the way you invest it is of supreme importance.
The right attitudes in the Samaritan’s heart lead to the right action. Instead of judging the victim and justifying his own selfishness, the Samaritan had compassion upon him. That compassion led to action.[5] Look at all the action he took in behalf of this man in verses 34 & 35.
He went to the man in need. That is in contrast to the two who “looked, and passed by on the other side.” Once their curiosity was satisfied they were ready to move on.
He tended to the man’s wounds. He poured medicine (a mixture of oil and wine)
into the man’s wounds. It was no doubt a messy job. He got his hands dirty and
could have gotten disease himself. Not to mention that the robbers may have still
been around and robbed him. There were risks he encountered that could have been avoided by quote “minding his own business”.
He bandaged this man’s wounds as well. Why did he have these bandages and the medicine? I would suggest that it was because he might need these things for
himself. I would further suggest that he could have said to himself, “I may need these later for me. I can’t use them up here?”
He set the man on his own animal and took him to the inn—either to Jericho or Jerusalem. I think I hear the priest and Levite asking themselves, “How would
I get the man to the hospital, I only have one donkey—just enough for me.” Look how this Samaritan inconvenienced himself. Doing right is seldom convenient. Doing for others almost always makes life a little less easy on one’s self. It is safe to assume this Samaritan walked to the city while the wounded man rode his animal.[6] Here’s the point of all that. If we only do it when we have the extra
horse or donkey, we probably won’t do much of it.
He took care of the man at the inn that evening. He was tired. He would have liked to have rested more. He had a long journey ahead of him. But notwithstanding all that he “took care of him.”
He gave the inn keeper two denarii (two days wages)[7] to provide the man a place to stay. This was costing him time and money—two of the most precious things we have.
He promised the inn keeper he would take care of the bill if there were any additional charges. I see something about this Samaritan’s character at this point. The inn keeper accepted that promise. He knew the Samaritan as a man of his word. He knew the debt would be paid. The Samaritan had a good reputation that he could use in helping this victim.
Conclusion
How do we bring this all down to where you and I live? Can I possibly solve every problem I know about? Can I possibly be all things to all people? No, and God does not expect that.
First, He does not expect you to give what you do not have. 2 Cor 8:12-14 “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack -- that there may be equality.”
God wants you to share out of what you have—what He has entrusted you with. They may involve money. It may involve time. It may involve gifting. “But to each one is give the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:7) Sometimes people of ability think God gave that to them so that they could excel above others and succeed. Big mistake—God gave it to you for the common good. As a steward you are responsible before God to use it that way.
One day Peter and John were on the way to the temple for a church service. On the way they met a crippled man begging for alms. Peter and John did not have money to give the man. But they did not ignore the need either. Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” You may not have money but you can pray. You may not have money but you can serve. You’ve got something you can give. Notice Peter didn’t give the man what he was asking for. He gave him something even better. It’s not always that we give what the other person may be demanding or even requesting. But we give out of our stewardship toward their highest well being.
Notice in our text, the Samaritan had to continue his journey. We don’t know what responsibilities he had but he still had to get to Jericho. He left the next day. Perhaps the poor wounded man would have like him to stay around longer. We can not always do all that we would like to do or that another might want us to do because there are demands that compete for our time and money. The priest and Levite allowed that to keep them from helping the man at all. The Samaritan did everything he could in the context of all his responsibilities. I find that I can not do everything everyone wants me to do. But I must do all I can and all that the Lord requires me to do. The Samaritan left. But he left the man in good hands and did not wash his hands of the matter. “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”
In Luke 4:25-27 we find another factor for our consideration. There Jesus said, “But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."
Why didn’t Elisha heal all the other lepers in Israel? He was aware of their needs. He encountered many of them just as this Samaritan encounter the victim of robbery. Why didn’t Elijah provide food for all the widows instead of just that one? Jesus said it was because he was not sent to any of them except the one in Zarepahth. I have to ask God which needs He is sending me to. I have to be willing to respond in absolute obedience. If I offer up a little token prayer and then go in my selfish way, I will one day give an account for not listening to His direction. I can not meet every need but I can do everything God tells me to do about the needs I encounter.
The key is my attitude toward (1)the time and money that I steward and (2)my attitude toward those who need my help. It will seldom be convenient and you will hardly ever feel you have the extra to give. But timing is important. In the clip you are about to see the boy, Forrest Gump, desperately needed a friend as he boarded the school bus. Sometimes what people need is simply to be accepted and valued. Watch as Jenny is a good Samaritan to Forrest. (Begin at 00:12:15 and End at 00:15:28 as Forrest says “My only friend.”)
Invitation given after the clip
TEXT: Luke 10:25-37
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying,"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" 27 So he answered and said,"’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ’your neighbor as yourself.’" 28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ’Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." NKJV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The text which was read at the beginning of the service is available at the end of this manuscript for easy reference. All quotes are in New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.
[2] 1 Peter 1:18; Revelation 5:9
[3] 2 Timothy 3:5; Proverbs 4:23
[4] Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6
[5] Abraham’s response to Lot’s time of need is another illustration of the right action based upon the right thinking. Abraham could have easily said, “I don’t have enough men to defeat all these evil kings. If I try to help they may destroy me.” Being a good Samaritan requires faith. (Genesis 14:14)(Proverbs 24:11-12)
[6] Luke 10:34 (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
[7] Matthew 20:2
