Making impact through our responsibilities in life - Luke 10:25-37 – The parable of the Good Samaritan
God’s people need to make impact in anywhere they are placed –They need to fulfill their responsibilities with awareness of God and with full diligence. It is not always about the influential persons who make impact but diligence in any responsibilities makes impact – Fish Cutting Selvam (Kasimedu)
We got the responsibility to do what Jesus commanded to make impact in individuals, community or nation. Often Christians well versed in reading and memorizing the Bible but not doing what Jesus commanded us to do.
(Insurance company owner – took a pause for travel – gave manual to the manager – the manager read it but never implemented – no further growth in the business. Christians many times memorize the Bible but fail to practice and activate it in their lives which is the responsibility of every believer)
Jesus gave a parable how a common person can make impact in the life of others and in their societies. Luke 10:25 - On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Other wards what must I do to go to heaven? (Sunday School teacher asked the same question after the strong teaching from the Bible and asks the children – what must I do to go to heaven? The student said you must die to go to heaven – she never expected that answer)
Expert in Law: There are 613 commandments extracted from the Old Testament (Called Mitzvot), one must know them all to become “Expert in Law.” His intention was to Test Jesus (v.25) and Justify himself (v.29).
The question: Who is my neighbor? In other words what is my
responsibility in my community?
The parable of the Good Samaritan: Traveler from Jericho (252m BSL) to Jerusalem (754m ASL) – 18 miles upward path (1006 m), no proper road, filled with bushes which protect the robbers, no safe road for the strangers. A Jew was attacked by the robbers who took all his belongings and attacked him brutally. He needs help to live and in life-threatening situation. Three characters pass-by as this man was attacked.
A Priest: (v.31) Rules for priests not to defile themselves by dead or wounded people – he is allowed to touch them only if they are of his close relatives (Lev 21:1ff). He is responsible to God in performing sacrifices and represents people in front of God, he has no time attending this wounded man – he doesn’t want to take the risk of caring him and potentially attacked by the robbers/bandits again.
He stands for God so why to worry about the wounded man? Sometimes we say to the people who ask for financial help – I will pray for you, and then leave the person alone. The priest passed the other side looking at the man in need.
A Levite: (v.32) By position he is lower than the priest but has the opportunity to serve the Lord in the temple court, he has the same regulation concerning the touching of dead and wounded person. He probably thought I have lot of works to do for the Lord.
Work for the Lord – Performing rituals, praying…
etc.
Work from the Lord – Caring the poor, (Abraham,
Jonah) it is harder than the first one.
He also went the other side leaving the person in need – probably he might have thought “I have lot of works to do for the Lord.” Matthew 25:40 – Whatever you did to the least of these you have done it to me! – He left the least and needy person.
A Samaritan: (v.33) – Someone from the geographical location of the northern Kingdom Israel. The kingdom was captured on 722 BC by the Assyrians, they invaded, installed the pagan gods, inter marriages with Israel and inhabited the Land – They became part of the Gentiles group.
Wounded Jew is a neighbor to a Samaritan – Neighbor is anyone who is in need of your help, not exactly from your tribe, caste or relative. The Samaritan impacted this story by fulfilling the responsibilities given by God. He went towards him (got close to him) while the others went away from him. Love and compassion make people draw towards the needy, doesn't go away from the needy persons. The key thing that motivated him to do this act of kindness is “Mercy/Pity” it is because of the Mercy (v.33 – Looking through God’s eyes), he acted swiftly (v.34) and attended the emergency of the wounded man (v.35)
Things we must activate to make impact through our responsibilities
1. Don’t
count the Reward: he did not expect what he will get in terms of
helping this person who is in need. What will I gain is a consumer mentality –
What can I do for someone is the contributing mentality. There is a future
reward for all your good deeds.
2. Don’t
count the Risk: The priest and Levite count the risk if they
help the wounded man at his prime time of need. Making impact risks our lives,
the Samaritan would have delayed of his works and potentially be attacked by
the robbers. He did not count the risk in making impact on someone’s life.
3. Don’t
count the Sacrifice: To attend the wounded man he must set aside his
priorities. Mercy calls for sacrifice; there is no sacrifice without Mercy. The
Lord who sees in secret will reward you publically (Matt 6:4,6) the sacrifice
doesn’t need the advertisement.
4. Don’t
count the Cost: Mercy is costly, everything we see in the world
come with the price tag. The Samaritan bore the financial cost of the wounded
man. He is not sure of getting the money back but to make impact through his
life he did not count the finance he spent at him.
The interesting factor is we call this parable as “Good Samaritan” where as Jesus called him as a Samaritan. The good was added to him for centuries it is because of the impact he made in someone’s life. We must make impact in someone’s life through our God given responsibilities. We need to care for the universe at the same time we need to love the neighbors (who is in need of help)
