Helping others was something Jesus did on a daily
basis. He was constantly approached by people, but He
always found time to stop what He was doing to help
those in need. This is a lesson we must learn if we
want to be anything like Jesus, our savior.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

While Jesus was teaching one day, a man in the crowd
tried to test him to see if he would give a wrong
answer. He asked Jesus, what he must do to inherit
eternal life.

Jesus, who knew the man was a lawyer, told him to
follow the law, which says to love God and love your
neighbor. In order to justify himself, the lawyer
asked who his neighbor was. Jesus then responded with
this parable.

Luke 10:30-37 And Jesus answering said, A certain man
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among
thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and
wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And
by 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, came
and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where
he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in
oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and
brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on
the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence,
and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take
care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I
come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these
three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell
among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy
on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou
likewise.

To the Jews of Jesus' time there was no such thing as
a "good Samaritan." Jews and Samaritans hated each
other for religious and political reasons. The fact
that it was a Samaritan who helped the Jewish man
shows we are all neighbors. It also shows that God is
interested in showing mercy rather than maintaining
prejudice.

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

Then since this is the case our first priority should
be to ensure that justice is carried out around us,
that we show mercy to our "neighbors," and that we
practice our faith and not just talk about it, while
letting go all stereotypes, forms of discrimination
and hatred.

TREASURE IN HEAVEN

A rich young man was wealthy enough for this life but
he wanted to know about eternal life. He was unsure of
his destiny and came to Jesus seeking security for his
future.

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 the
commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy
father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I
kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these
things, 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 very
sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw
that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God.

Notice how Jesus did not challenge the young ruler's
claims about his life, but said that he still lacked
just one more thing. He then told the young man to
sell all that he had, distribute to the poor, and he
would have treasure in heaven.

This focused on his wealth and caused the rich man to
become very sorrowful because his money was obviously
most important to him.

However, Jesus clearly makes service to others the
last indication of fitness for eternal life aside from
keeping the ten commandments.

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

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