Success Is Loving

It is very hard for us to grasp the impact of the story of the Good Samaritan on Jesus' listeners. A religious lawyer who believed he had everything figured out challenged Jesus with a question.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Luke 10:25

When Jesus asked him what the law said, he correctly said that loving God and neighbor was the essence of the law. So Jesus told him to go love God and neighbor and he would live. The lawyer however, still wasn't satisfied so he asked Jesus to define who was his neighbor. So Jesus teaches us about being a neighbor by telling the story of a Jewish man who had been robbed and left for dead. Later two religious leaders find him, ignore his need and continue on in their busy lives. Then a Samaritan comes along who cares for the man, takes him to an inn and pays his bills. Of course, the lawyer has to admit that the Samaritan was the neighbor. The religious and ethnic hatred between Jews and Samaritans is well documented. Jesus' point, however, is that if we are going to love God and our neighbor we must be willing to love those who hate us. We must, like the Samaritan, serve those whom we would rather ignore and leave for dead. Who are the Samaritans in our life? Are we living a life of love? Who are those people around us who need forgiveness and understanding? Who do we need to forgive? There is nothing more important in this life than loving our great God and those whom he has created. One day I will stand before God. What lame excuse will I try when explaining why I wouldn't love my neighbor? Whatever it is, it won't work.