I HEART GOD/I HEART GUELPH

PART 3: Answering Three Key Questions About Being A Christian Neighbour

LUKE 10:25-37

1. WHO is my neighbour?

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”  Luke 10:29

Jonathan Edwards – Treatise the Duty of Charity

1. They’re not truly poor/destitute. Edwards Response: We should relieve our neighbours only extreme destitution? That is not agreeable to the rule of loving our neighbours as ourselves. We get concerned about our situations long before we become destitute.  We do something about our situation long before we become destitute.  So, you should love your neighbour as yourself.
2. But they brought it on themselves. Edwards Response: But Christ loved you, pitied you and greatly laid himself out to relieve you from all that want and misery that you brought on yourself, by your own folly. Should we not love others as Christ loved us?
3. But I can’t afford to help. Edwards Response: Remember Galatians 6:2 – bear one another’s burdens. We may by the rules of the gospel be obliged to give to others when we cannot do it without suffering ourselves.  Else, how is that rule of bearing one another’s burdens fulfilled?  If we are never obliged to relieve others burdens without burdening ourselves, how do you bear your neighbour’s burdens when you only do it when you bear no burden at all?

2. WHY should I help them? Grace, not guilt.

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  1 John 3:16-18

3. WHAT can I do? Action

But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’      Luke 10:33-35

The Samaritan did three things:

1. See people
2. Think about them
3. Touch them

PLAN 5 ACTS OF GOODNESS THIS WEEK.