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Neighborly Kindness
November 2, 2010

One of the major obstacles to show- ing compassion is making prejudgments about who we think is worthy of our compassion. Jesus told a parable to answer the question: “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Or, who qualifies as worthy of our neighborly acts?

Jesus told of a man who traveled on the notoriously dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. As he traveled, he fell among thieves and was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Religious Jews (a priest and a Levite) passed him, but they walked by on the other side, probably for fear of being religiously defiled. But a Samaritan came along and had unconditional compassion on the wounded stranger.

Jesus’ audience would have gasped at this because Jews despised Samaritans. The Samaritan could have limited or qualified his compassion because the man was a Jew. But he did not limit his neighborly kindness to those he thought were worthy. Instead, he saw a human being in need and resolved to help him.

Are you limiting your kindness to the ones you deem worthy? As followers of Jesus, let us find ways to show neighborly kindness to all people, especially to those we have judged as unworthy.

How many lives shall I touch today?
How many neighbors will pass my way?
I can bless so many and help so much,
If I meet each one with a Christlike touch. —Jones

Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.

Read: Luke 10:25-37

A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. —Luke 10:33

Bible in a year:
Jeremiah 27-29; Titus 3

When we see suffering, plight or distress, we often are so moved as to turn away rather than to show mercy, give aid and help, telling our self as did Christopher Reed, ‘Thank God it is not me.’

Truly, in the world there are much sufferings and needs. We are to render to others as we would have them do for us in the same circumstance.

Sunday as I arrived in the church parking lot ... there was this lady on a bicycle, (I had noticed her before on Sunday mornings). She waited behind my car for me to get out of the car. She said I have been sleeping out back of a business, can you give me $10.00 to get a room? I said ‘the benevolence office is across the street ... they will help you.’ she said they are not there now. She was about 45 or so, thin, and asking for help. I said I would rather arrange for you a room than give you the money, to which she said I am hungry too. I said, see you have changed your story. ... there are associate pastors in the church that will help you. Yet I could not turn away from her having done nothing. I gave her $10.00, blessed her and said please do not use this to hurt yourself. She said, ‘when we bless others we receive a blessing.’ I did not feel good about it either way.

I know the reality is she is making bad choices all the time. Can we imagine what it would be like to be alone in the world, and to have nothing? ... Usually it is s persons own fault. It is a vicious cycle.
Her name is Judy. Let us pray for Judy.