One the Road to becoming a World Changer!
Luke 10:30-37
The Setting:
We are walking down a roadside between Jerusalem and Jericho. An area that is considered dangerous but one that is often traveled by many people. This is The exact same road in which this story unfolds.
Summary:
A certain Jewish man is stopped on this road by a band of robbers. They stripped him and beat him before taking his possessions. Have you ever had a bad day?
----------The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later they were both eaten by a killer whale.
---------- A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Till that moment he had been happily listening to his walkman.
---------- An Iraqi terrorist didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was a bomb; he opened it and was blown to bits. Talk about having a bad day.
But what happened with the robbers is not the real tragedy of the story. When you think it couldn’t get any worse, well it does.
The Bible tells us that three men passed by on this day when this bad incident occurred. There could have been more people but Jesus only shares three men who makes in impact in the life of this injured individual.
A man who is in need...one who needs medical attention.
A man who needs some support
A man who is in pain
A man who is hurting
A man who can’t help himself
A man who is having a very, very bad day
So Jesus in this parable which sounds like the opening of a bad joke tells us about the first man who comes along and notices this Jewish man who has been overtaken by thieves. And we find that this story is far from being funny.
The Priest: supposedly a man of God. To most, he is regarded as the man you can go to when you have problems in your life. For the injured man, the Priest is also a Jew. So he’s one of his own.
We don’t really know what was going through the head of this priest as he traveled this road on this day but here’s what we do know.
1. by chance he came by – a planned occurrence
2. the priest saw him
3. he passed him by
Before we pass judgment on the priest, let’s see if we can imagine what he must have been thinking:
“I’ve been serving God all day and I am tired”
“I am ready to get home so I can just relax”
“You know, the robbers could still be around”
“Why should I put my life in jeopardy for this man?”
“It’s not my fault he was attacked”
“You know, I don’t really know who this man is...”
“Why should I stop, he doesn’t go to my church”
All could be valid points of interest. Some could even have been used by you one time or another. But I think we could all agree that these statements are nothing more than just “excuses”.
A second man comes into the picture. The Bible says this man did the exact same thing as the priest.
He walked by
He saw the man
He kept walking
The Levite: What could this man be thinking? Could we dare to venture that he had something else on his mind?
“Maybe he had a date with his wife”
“He could have been on his way to a ballgame”
“He could have had friends coming over for dinner”
“Maybe, he had to hurry home to get that phone call”
I am not sure about a lot of things concerning the Levite but the one thing for sure; he didn’t take time to stop.
The story is about to take a turn. Finally someone is going to come to the aid of this poor Jewish man. And what do you know; the one man that stops is a Samaritan.
What you may not realize is that the Samaritans and the Jews were enemies.
John 4:9 “The Samaritan woman asked Jesus, ‘How is that You being a Jew ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans)
John 8:48, the Jews even told Jesus that since He was a Samaritan that he was full of demons.
So the love between these two groups is not very strong. But on this one day, it’s strong enough for a Samaritan man to assist a helpless Jew.
The Samaritan was taking the steps of a World Changer
What can we learn to help us become World Changers?
The things this Samaritan did in this story are the exact steps you must commit to taking if you are going to truly become a World Changer!
1. The Samaritan man saw him -
You may say yeah but wait the other two men saw him as well. This is the perfect example of a World Changer.
The Samaritan was looking through his eyes of compassion. When you look through your eyes of compassion everything you do will become “ministry”.
We have to constantly be aware the God has placed people and situations in our paths everyday. He has put them there to see how we will react and respond.
People who need an encouraging word
Tires that need to be changed
Yards to be mowed
Friends who need an ear to hear their problems
Moms who need a hug
Dads who need to hear a “Thank You”
Lost friends who need to know about Jesus
So, let me ask you – If you are a World Changer, how many people have you helped today?
Notice: This was not a friend to the Samaritan in fact, we’ve already discussed how this was actually an enemy but this World Changer was looking for an opportunity to please God.
2. The Samaritan man showed compassion –
v.33 tells us that he had compassion but the next few verses actually show us his compassion in action.
Many people can get by with hearing you say that you care and that love them. But then there are other times when “words” are not enough. That’s when you have to show compassion instead of just feeling compassion.
Sometimes you just have to get into the game even if you have to run in off the bench.
Illustration:
I love the spirit of Tommy Lewis. Lewis was a team captain and fullback for the Alabama football team in 1954. On an infamous play in the Cotton Bowl, Lewis saw the Rice halfback Dick Moegle running free for a touchdown. With no helmet, he rushed off the sidelines and onto the field and made an illegal tack on Moegle. I like the spirit of a person who wants to get into the game to make a difference.
Christ’s compassion challenges us not to just watch but actually get into the game.
Look at this World Changer’s compassion in action:
The Samaritan had to bandage up his wounds –
He had to get in a uncomfortable position to see this man’s blood and sores. Many times you may be called upon to go into some scary places to talk or help people who you may not feel comfortable around. But look through your eyes of compassion and let God take over you.
The Samaritan had to walk the rest of the way
He gave up his seat on the donkey for someone who was less fortunate at the time.
You maybe called to give up something for somebody:
“Your seat in the lunchroom”
“The last glass of tea”
“You may have to give up a turn”
“Give up your lunch”
Be willing to do whatever you are called on to do.
The Samaritan had to spend his own money
(v.35) “two denarii” = two days wages
God may want you to:
“Buy someone’s lunch”
“Buy them a coke”
“Pay their rent for a month”
“Give them all that you have when you are need”
And even said keep a running tab and when I am through here again I will repay you for the expense.
Not only was this World Changer looking to help meet his immediate needs but he wanted to bless him for several more days.
NOTICE: The Samaritan had somewhere to be but he did not neglect his ministry opportunity. WOW!
Illustration:
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, & Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could of done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could of done.
The Priest and Levite lost out:
Could have become better men
Could have been good stewards
Could have been a good influence
Could have been World Changers…
But they decided their lives’ were more important than God’s plan.
CLOSING:
(v.36, 37) Jesus is telling us to “Go and do the same”
There are so many opportunities that God will give you each day to minister to somebody.
The only ones who will do it?
People who want to be World Changers
