THINGS THE GOOD SAMARITAN DID NOT DO

Rev. Mike Jones, Lebanon FWB Church

Scripture- Luke 10:25-37

       A lawyer came to Jesus to ask him a trick question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus used a wise tactic, He invited the lawyer to answer his own question and then He told the lawyer to practice what he preached!! Always looking for a loop hole, the lawyer asked for a definition of “neighbor”. Jesus again put the lawyer into the position of answering his own question by telling the story of the “Good Samaritan” and then telling the lawyer to use the “Good Samaritan” principle in his dealings with those around him.

       Missionary Carlisle Hanna tells about his struggles to help the people in India. He said that one of the most difficult decisions he had to make on a daily basis was deciding who to help and how much to help them- If he gave something to one person then an hour from that time ten people would be at his door. If he tried to help those ten then two hours later 100 people would be at his door. If he tried to help those people then the next morning thousands of people would be crowding into his yard. What would the “Good Samaritan” do here?

       Most people have a good heart about helping other people but they are afraid they will be fooled by a con artist or latched onto by a continual beggar. Let us look at some things the Good Samaritan did NOT do to get some practical guidelines about helping those in need.

       1) He did not pass him by. The Thieves thought this man was someone to exploit. The Priest thought he was someone to avoid. The Levite thought he was an object of curiosity. But the Samaritan saw him as a person to be loved. It is easy to find reasons not to help people. Instead, you should look for ways to really help and make a difference in a lonely hurting world.

       2) He did not take him home. He cared for this “certain man” himself by binding up his wounds. He then took him to an inn where he could get rest, refreshment, and feel secure. (The Emergency Medical Services Act of S. C. allows for “Good Samaritan” transport of a victim to a place of safety without meeting the normal qualifications of an ambulance). His care for his stranger did not overrule his care for his family.

       3) He did not obligate himself to long term care of the victim. He got him stable; made sure he had provision for adequate recovery; and then went on with his life. The victim’s need did not control the life of the Good Samaritan.

       4) He did not expect this to happen again. He could reasonable assume that this “certain man” would learn from this robbery and beating and make necessary changes. He did not expect to find this man in the same ditch under the same circumstances the next week.

In caring for others:

       - Don't Glory in what you Do- Bishop Ambrose of Milan (339-397) "I will not glory because I am righteous, but because I am redeemed. I will not glory because I am void of sin, but because I am forgiven. I will not glory because I am profitable or because any one is profitable to me, but because Christ is my advocate with the Father and His blood was shed for me."

       - Be willing to Sacrifice: Love means acting to meet the needs of a person even at the cost of COST and inconvenience.

       - Do not become so “heavenly minded” (like the priest and Levite) until you are no earthly good. You will be “fooled” and misused sometimes but do not use that as an excuse to become cold and hard.  Our care for others is a measure of our greatness