Sometimes the person we least expect to come to our aid proves to be the most valuable asset to us in a time of crisis or need. This fact was clearly demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25 – 37.
The first observation to make regarding this parable is the title itself; specifically the use of the word ‘Good’ and ‘Samaritan in light of Jewish history. These two words are a dichotomy because the thought of a Samaritan probably did not invoke images of a person the Jews would regard as ‘good’ considering that the Jews and the Samaritans had been long standing enemies.

As you read this account of the traveler who falls prey to thieves, its reasonable to assume that a priest, being of Jewish descent and a Levite; also of Jewish descent would be the most likely candidates to offer help to the victimized man. Instead the parable records neither of these individuals displayed compassion towards the traveler. Instead the compassion of the least likely Samaritan was stirred to meet both the present and future anticipated needs of the traveler. Jesus stated this parable in answer to the simple question ’who is my neighbor?’

This question and its ensuing answer is one that the body of Christ has to continue to consider and abide by. When we show mercy or act benevolent towards our neighbors we are satisfying the expectations of our Christian responsibilities and obeying the commandment of the Word of God. The Word of God is rich with directives for Christians to obey so that we will have healthy relationships with our neighbors.

My own personal experience with my neighbor brought to light the ’living word’ as it is written in the latter portion of Proverbs 27:10; which states ‘for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.’

In April of 2007 my youngest son required extensive surgery on his leg due to the onset of a particular disease. Because the surgery took place 100 miles away, it was necessary for him to be transported back home by ambulance. The surgical procedure left him with rods securing his bones, so extreme care had to be taken to ensure that his leg would be kept in a fully extended position. The ambulance arrived just minutes after I pulled into my driveway and the gurney carrying my son was carefully brought into our home by the Mobile Medical Technicians.

Once inside and alone with him I had to come to terms with a wide range of emotions now that we no longer had the care of an attentive and knowledgeable medical staff. I am blessed to have a very strong support system in place in time of an emergency, I have an older teenage son and my sister’s family lives across the street from our home. But as providence would have it, this particular weekend my eldest son was away at a competition in another city and my sister and her husband (he being my pastor as well) were on an extensive Missions trip to Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan..

My son and I were by all accounts alone. As I considered what to do first there was a knock on my door. I recognized the person as my neighbor who up to that time I knew only casually on a first-name basis because my family was new to the neighborhood having lived there for only 10 months. She re-introduced herself and indicated she was about to leave a note she had just written. The note stated her name, and the fact that she was my neighbor. It went on to express her concern at seeing my son come home by ambulance. Even though she was not aware of the severity of the incidence she stated that she was willing to do anything to help in his care. There was such compassion in her note and I have kept it to this day. The note went on to explain her experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant with homecare experience.

She had never been in my home prior to this day and knew my son by sight only. Yet it was at that time I realized I needed a true neighbor, one that would exhibit many of the characteristics found in Romans 15:2 (Amplified) ‘Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [strengthen him and build him up spiritually]. Shortly following this incident a good friend of my coined this expression “You don’t know you need a neighbor, until you need a neighbor.”

So on this particular day my neighbor came into my home and remained with my son while I left to pick up his prescriptions. I felt completely at ease with her in my home tending to my son in my absence. I returned, administered his medication and he was able to get some well needed rest before we were presented with a new challenge.

His bedroom was equipped with a hospital bed that had been delivered after his arrival home, and our struggle now became how to move him from the sofa to his wheelchair to inside his bedroom, considering that he was unable to put any weight on his leg. This episode moved us both to tears as we realized his degree of physical limitations and the resulting pain that our attempts caused him.

After being unsuccessful and worn-out I, called our neighbor and she helped to devise a strategy to transfer him safely to his hospital bed. Her kindness will never be forgotten and she displayed the type of neighborliness that we all can learn from. She could have stayed comfortably in her own home and watched the scene of my son being carried on a gurney into our home without us ever being aware of her observations. Instead she turned out to be a ‘neighbor.’

As Christians we are required to maintain good, civil relationships with our neighbors. This not only lends itself to the increased viability of our communities, but it also allows us to appreciate the value that these neighborly relationships lend to our every day lives. Today is a good day to apply the Word of God as stated in Galatians 5:14 ‘For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

It’s time to get busy.

Rhonda Alexia Webb is the founder and Executive Director of Cross the Street, an organization that promotes the building up of communities. The website is www.crossthestreet.org. She is an ordained minister at Faith Harvest Church in Saginaw Michigan where Rev. Ronald E, Chipp is the Senior Pastor.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at 3:00 am and is filed under Weekly Message, Sermons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.