Go Beyond

   I recently saw this message on a bumper sticker: “Caution: I Drive Like You Do.” Two things came to mind as I reflected on this convicting message. First, I wondered how safe our nation’s roads would be if my driving were to become the standard. Second, I quickly thanked God that my driving is not the standard and purposed to become a more courteous driver.

   The bumper sticker started me thinking about people and relationships. What if the bumper sticker had read: “Caution: I Love Others Like You Do”? I wondered what the world would be like if people loved others the way I do. And again, I was reminded of the fact that I need to do a better job of loving, valuing, and caring for others.

   Sometimes we can be as reckless as inconsiderate drivers in our associations with others. That is why God’s Word cautions us against adopting the attitudes that devalue and destroy human beings (Lev. 19:16-18a). Instead, God calls us to live by a higher standard — love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18b). This simply means to love your neighbor as a person like yourself. Your neighbor is a human being, just like you, who wants to be treated with respect and who longs to be loved and valued. The care and concern you have for yourself are natural human attitudes, and these attitudes should extend to others as well. Jesus illustrated this truth by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.

   Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question asked by a Jewish lawyer (Luke 10:25). Jesus responded to the lawyer’s question by asking him to quote the summary of the Law as stated in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18b (Luke 10:26). The lawyer answered correctly (Luke 10:27-28). “But wishing to justify himself,” the lawyer  asked Jesus a second question (Luke 10:29) — “And who is my neighbor?” This question betrayed the lawyer’s narrow view of love. He was willing to love his neighbor as himself (Lev. 19:18b) only if he could limit the definition of “neighbor.”

   What about you? How do you define the word neighbor? The lawyer’s definition of neighbor probably was limited to fellow Jews and Jewish proselytes. His definition likely excluded tax collectors, sinners, and Samaritans. Is your definition of neighbor limited only to certain types of people? I will never forget the day I watched the events of 9/11 unfold. Hundreds of volunteers worked in shifts to rescue survivors buried in the rubble and to recover the remains of those killed in this terrorist attack. For a few days, human beings worked to rescue other human beings — regardless of their race, rank, or riches. For a few days, we all broadened our definition of neighbor and America became one big neighborhood. How big is your neighborhood?

   Jesus responded to the lawyer’s second question by relating a shocking story in which a despised Samaritan was the hero. In the story, a man on a journey was brutally attacked by robbers and left for dead (Luke 10:30). A priest traveling the same road saw the man but did not stop to render aid (Luke 10:31). Later, a Levite also saw the beaten man beside the road but, for whatever reason, also went on his way without giving aid (Luke 10:32). Fortunately for the beaten man, a Samaritan traveling down the road had a broader definition of neighbor than did the priest and Levite (Luke 10:33). The Samaritan stopped to assist the beaten man (Luke 10:34) at great personal expense (Luke 10:35). The Samaritan was interested in loving rather than in defining his neighbor. His response illustrates that love is expressed in actions dedicated for the good of others — regardless of who they are.

   At the conclusion of the story Jesus asked the lawyer which of the three proved to be a neighbor to the beaten man (Luke 10:36). The lawyer again responded correctly, although he could not bring himself to utter the word Samaritan (Luke 10:37). Jesus told the lawyer to “Go and do the same.” And, so should we.

Murder Prevention 101
Six questions to ask yourself based on my four posts on Life’s Value.

• Do I believe that human life is a gift from God?
• Do I believe that God alone has the right to number our days?
• Am I willing to allow someone to hold me accountable for my speech?
• Am I willing to allow God to search my heart and to remove any wrong attitudes toward others?
• Am I willing to enlarge my definition of neighbor?
• Am I willing to love my neighbor as myself?

• • • • •

Please take a moment to read Life’s Value | 1, Life’s Value | 2, and Life’s Value | 3.