Which Acted Like A Neighbour?

WHICH ONE OF THESE THREE ACTED LIKE A NEIGHBOUR TOWARD THE MAN ATTACKED BY THE ROBBERS? Luke 10.36.

The other night, a lady journalist was attacked by robbers while she was returning home after a function. Some ‘good Samaritans’ helped her. There will always be crime, violence and victims and rescuers too. But who ever connects ‘receiving eternal life’ to helping out a wounded victim of robbery?

If you, a Bible believing Christian, were to answer that question that Jesus was asked, “What must I do to receive eternal life”, what would you have said? Without batting an eyelid or thinking twice, you might have quoted the Bible verse (that is if you know your Bible), “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16.31). While this is very true, there is much more to inheriting eternal life than a mere profession of faith in the Lord, as this parable of the Good Samaritan reveals!

Just like today, there were in the early church too, people who professed faith by their mouths but did not show it by their actions. The apostle James was deeply concerned about the lack of love and concern among the believers in the church. Hence he teaches you that your faith must be reflected in our actions. You must love God and obey His commandments. BUT you must equally love people and help them!

Listen to the arguments James puts forth to encourage us to work out our salvation by our deeds to one another. He brings out practical issues of life and asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

He continues, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do….You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" (Jas 2.17-20).

This ‘Good Samaritan’s story’ which Jesus told in the context of gaining eternal life should stir your spirit to be ‘pro-active’ to the needs of people all around you. You do not have to go on a mission to Cambodia to do good to the helpless! You who call yourself Christian should seriously consider ways and means to be of practical help to all those in need around you, especially believers.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, You have said, “The poor you have always with you”, meaning that they need my help! (Mt 26.11). Help me to look not only to my own needs, but also to the needs of others (Phil 2.4) and begin to help them. Amen.