Helping Others - What Did Jesus Say?

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

While Jesus was teaching one day, a man in the crowdtried to test him to see if he would give a wronganswer. He asked Jesus, what he must do to inheriteternal life.

Jesus, who knew the man was a lawyer, told him tofollow the law, which says to love God and love yourneighbor. In order to justify himself, the lawyerasked who his neighbor was. Jesus then responded withthis parable.

Luke 10:30-37 And Jesus answering said, A certain manwent down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell amongthieves, which stripped him of his raiment, andwounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Andby chance there came down a certain priest that way:and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, cameand looked on him, and passed by on the other side.But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came wherehe was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring inoil and wine, and set him on his own beast, andbrought him to an inn, and took care of him. And onthe morrow when he departed, he took out two pence,and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Takecare of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when Icome again, I will repay thee. Which now of thesethree, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fellamong the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercyon him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thoulikewise.

To the Jews of Jesus' time there was no such thing asa "good Samaritan." Jews and Samaritans hated eachother for religious and political reasons. The factthat it was a Samaritan who helped the Jewish manshows we are all neighbors. It also shows that God isinterested in showing mercy rather than maintainingprejudice.

Not to mention the fact that the Jewish priest andLevite who are temple assistants, and are usuallyrecognized as servants of God didn't lift a finger tohelp the man who was badly beaten.

Then since this is the case our first priority shouldbe to ensure that justice is carried out around us,that we show mercy to our "neighbors," and that wepractice our faith and not just talk about it, whileletting go all stereotypes, forms of discriminationand hatred.

TREASURE IN HEAVEN

A rich young man was wealthy enough for this life buthe wanted to know about eternal life. He was unsure ofhis destiny and came to Jesus seeking security for hisfuture.

Luke 18:18-25 And a certain ruler asked him, saying,Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest thecommandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Donot steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thyfather and thy mother. And he said, All these have Ikept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard thesethings, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor,and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,follow me. And when he heard this, he was verysorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus sawthat he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shallthey that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle'seye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom ofGod.

Notice how Jesus did not challenge the young ruler'sclaims about his life, but said that he still lackedjust one more thing. He then told the young man tosell all that he had, distribute to the poor, and hewould have treasure in heaven.

This focused on his wealth and caused the rich man tobecome very sorrowful because his money was obviouslymost important to him.

However, Jesus clearly makes service to others thelast indication of fitness for eternal life aside fromkeeping the ten commandments.

Therefore real wealth involves following Jesus byliving not to be served, but to serve others and todevote one's life to the well being of others.