A Neighbor Without A Name

Luke chapter 10 this morning, Luke chapter 10.

Luke 10 · chapter mention Luke 10 · chapter mention

As we take a look here in Luke chapter 10,

Luke 10 · chapter mention

as we're going to be looking at a neighbor with no name.

We've been going through a series of talking about people in Scripture

that had no name given for them,

and that really most of these you'll find can apply to us.

I mean, instead of their name or not having a name given,

you could put your name in a lot of these and apply the principles

and the things that we're looking at for that.

But in Luke chapter 10, let's pick up here in verse 30 here quick this morning.

Luke 10 · chapter mention

And it says this,

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 he 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 pants 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 showeth mercy on him.

Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we take a few moments here to look at these individuals here within the passage,

Lord, about answering the question of who is my neighbor.

Lord, to consider those things in our own lives as we look at others as we walk through life,

and to take a look and to see who our neighbor is and what our responsibility is in regards to it.

And Lord, we just love you and thank you in Jesus' name.

Amen.

You know, we find here this parable is told by Jesus in response to a question.

I found up in verse 29, who, when the lawyer came and asked him this, he says,

Who is my neighbor?

You know?

Which brings to the forefront, what does a Christian look like?

What does Christian love, what does charity, as the Bible call it, look like?

Because when we understand this question, because who is his neighbor?

This man was asking a question, trying to get out of responsibility.

Instead of we need to ask, you know, how is this our responsibility?

How does this apply to us?

And, you know, when we think about this parable,

it could really be summarized by three statements about people.

You know?

Because there's three people you find in here.

You find some spend their life beating people up.

You know?

You find some spend their life passing people up.

And you find some spend their life helping people up.

You know, that's really a great summation I found for this passage,

because we're going to see each of these in what they do.

But really, the choice is ours to which category is going to describe our life.

You know?

Because you don't have to have great title or position or even great resources

to understand the responsibility as Jesus is going to look here of who is your neighbor.

What's our responsibility towards others?

Because when we consider those things, we need to realize the gravity of sin.

Because really, in discussing this, we need to consider the reality of the gravity of sin

that's involved in life.

You know, the victim of this story we're told very little about.

You know?

He's probably the one we know the least about or can make least assumptions.

We really know nothing about the man who fell into what was a victim here of this brutality.

We find here, we're told he's going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and got into trouble.

You know, we don't know whether he was going with right intentions or wrong intentions.

You know, he doesn't give us a picture either way.

But we do know he was going down.

And you know, one of the things that's interesting in Scripture,

oftentimes going down is always a reference into going someplace you shouldn't go.

You know?

It's kind of an illustration that reveals to us.

And we realize here that one of the greatest deceptions of Satan is to make sin look attractive or enticing.

And he makes us think that we'll be wise by following the temptation that's before us.

You know?

But it takes us down.

It takes us away from God.

And we're going to see this picture play out here.

You know, consider Genesis chapter 3 for a moment.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

When it talks about Satan, it says,

And the serpent said unto the woman,

Ye shall not surely die.

You know?

We could take time just to break this down.

But she questioned, the serpent questions the word of God.

What did God say about it?

For God doth know that the day ye eat thereof,

that your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,

and the tree to be desired to make one wise.

She took the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

You know?

We realize what happened at that moment.

They went from paradise and went down.

They stepped away from God.

They stepped away from what God would have,

because sin looks good, but always is way more destructive than you ever realized.

You know, the devil has a way of painting the picture of sin that's going to make life better,

but it always destroys.

It always tears down.

And we need to see that, because notice the direction of sin.

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho there in verse 30.

You know, it's natural to assume that Jerusalem, when you look on a map,

Jerusalem is north of Jericho.

You know, and since we normally use the terms in that context today,

when we look on a map, you know, we think about north as going up,

and south as going down.

But when you read your Bible, you have to understand that's not what it's talking about.

When it's given descriptions, it's talking about geographic.

You know?

So even the directionally challenged can manage this,

because if you're going that way, it's down.

If you're going that way, it's up.

So instead of being north and south, we'll just start talking about being up and down,

and so that might help people.

I don't know.

But pick on some of our directionally challenged folks,

directionally handicapped, or whatever they...

If you shut their GPS off, they'd never leave home.

But, you know, I want you to see here what's happening that, you know, in this,

because the reason that Jesus spoke about him going down,

it's based on altitude rather than direction.

Jerusalem sits about 2,500 feet higher than Jericho.

So he's actually talking about the altitude of which they're going.

In other words, we see this picture of going down to Jericho.

And the reason this makes perfect sense for Jesus to say,

they went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,

because literally it was the downhill direction that they would be going.

You know?

And God refers to Jerusalem as his own city,

a place of his.

Jeremiah 3 says this,

At the time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord,

and all nations shall be gathered unto it in the name of the Lord to Jerusalem.

Neither shall they walk anymore after the imagination of their evil heart.

You know, when he talks about going down from Jerusalem,

it's a picture of going away from God,

because Jerusalem is seen as the place of God,

and leaving and departing is going away.

And it's going down,

because I've never been over there to the Middle East,

and over to Israel.

It would be fun to probably go someday.

But, you know, just to see the geography.

But they tell me,

when you look at that,

there's no place to leave Jerusalem that you don't go down.

If you depart the city of Jerusalem,

you're going downhill.

It sits on top of a hill.

So we see this picture being played out,

and so we go down into sin.

That's the picture that we see here.

You know, and the Scripture teaches the propensity to go down.

It's amazing how many times this plays out.

You know, Genesis 12 talks about Abram,

and he goes down into Egypt to sojourn there.

You know, we find that in Judges 14,

Samson went down to Timnath,

and saw a woman in Timnath,

and the daughters of the Philistines.

You know, you find in Jonah chapter 1,

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

in verse 3,

he rose up and fled into Tarshish

from the presence of the Lord,

and went down to Joppa.

I mean, you see this illustration play out in Scripture.

Many times as going down in that relationship

to sin and the direction that they were going.

You know, when we understand the direction,

but the depletion of sin,

because the road down spiritually

never leads where it promises.

You know?

Sin is a deceiver.

This man leaving Jerusalem that day

probably had no idea what was going to take place.

He had no idea what was going to happen on the road.

You know, look here in our text here in Luke 10,

Luke 10:30

verse 30, it says,

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho

and fell among thieves,

which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him.

You know, when the devil promises us good,

and that which is pleasant, he's lying.

You know, the devil never tells you the truth.

He's a master deceiver.

John 8 says,

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own,

for he is a liar and the father of it.

You know, the devil loves to deceive,

loves to bring us away,

and to draw us in to sin,

promising something he'll never deliver.

Sin never delivers.

It always consumes more.

And it takes more.

But also the deadening of sin,

because ultimately the goal of the devil is death,

and the wages of sin is death.

This is the believing him always takes us away

from the promise of life and brings death.

You know, death is always associated with sin.

Think about what James tells us.

James 1,

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away

of his own lust and enticed.

And when lust hath conceived it,

bringeth forth sin.

And sin, when it is finished,

bringeth forth death.

You know, the man on the road to Jerusalem,

down to Jericho,

came frighteningly close to death that day.

Notice here in our text in verse 30,

and departed, leaving him what?

Half dead.

You know, it damaged his life.

It damaged the things around him.

And those of us who are saved

have a death-to-life experience

because of what Christ has done.

Because the Bible makes it clear

that you're dead in your trespasses and sins

until you call upon the Savior

and then you're made

and transformed into life.

It tells in Ephesians 2,

And you hath he quickened

who are dead in trespasses and sins.

That word quickened means made alive.

You know, but when we realize

that even after salvation sometimes

we choose a direction away from God.

You know, God's not a tyrant.

You know, sometimes people look at God today.

How many people of you know you talk to

that think of God as a tyrant?

You know, if he's such a sole authority,

why does he let this?

And why does he do that?

And why is all this?

And they give God recognition,

but they don't realize that God is a loving God.

He's truly in the right context,

a sovereign God.

He's sovereign over his creation.

But God also gives us the ability to make choice.

Because you can't experience love without a choice.

God cannot be loving and not allow choosing.

Because you can't force somebody to love you.

Love is a choice that we make.

The Bible makes it clear that God chose to love us.

That's the reason Christ came.

You know, we talked about that earlier,

is because God loved us.

He chose to love us.

He didn't have to.

He chose to.

The same as we choose what we're going to do

with what he has put on display for us.

Even after salvation, you choose,

are you going to stay close to God?

Or are you going to wander away from God?

We need to understand the picture

of what's happening.

You know, when we understand the dynamic,

the gravity of sin,

you know, God tells us very clearly,

you know, 1 John 1.9 says,

if we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That verse in 1 John 1.9

was written to save people.

If you read 1 John,

it's talking about our fellowship with God,

not our relationship with God.

Because sin causes a hindrance

in the fellowship.

But God says they can always be restored

if we come to him.

That's the reason he's always

throughout the Old Testament.

The theme of the Old Testament,

you'll find as you read through

one of the themes that's very clear in there

is God's calling people back to him.

God's calling Israel to return.

Come back to me.

It's a constant calling.

You see it throughout the Old Testament.

And it's still the same story today.

God's calling people to himself.

But we see here first the gravity of sin,

but then the greater sinners.

Because, you know,

he doesn't talk much about this man

that fell into,

that was robbed and beaten,

even though we know

that he was going away from Jerusalem

for whatever reason.

We may not know,

but the picture that we see,

but we see the greater sinners

because as the story continues,

we have this man lying by the road

half dead.

You know,

here he is beaten and bruised

and barely alive.

And then Jesus talks about

a couple other people who come by.

One a priest and the other a Levite

pass him by without stopping for help.

Without stopping to see what could be done.

You know,

it's not difficult to see

the callousness of the priest

and the Levite

in this passage.

The problem is

they're really more true to our life

than we care to admit sometimes.

You know,

sometimes when you read Bible stories,

we get the idea,

well,

why wouldn't be that person in the story?

But the reality is oftentimes

we are that person in the story.

We're the one that misses

the opportunities that God has.

You know,

how often do we pass up

an opportunity with people

of someone who's been robbed

and left for dead spiritually?

You know,

we have people that have been beat up

by sin and this world all around us.

Been robbed of the joy

that God offers to them.

They're dead in their trespasses and sins

and we can walk on by.

You know,

when we think about

and ask ourselves,

has God put someone into your path

perceiving,

perhaps even repeatedly

to whom we have neglected

to minister?

Maybe it's somebody

that you're in contact with

that you're always around

and you just never say anything.

You know?

But let's look here

at this greater sinners

because we see a divine intervention

that takes place

because the Lord often

sets up appointments for us.

You know,

we aren't prepared for them

unless we prepare ourselves

to be ready for what God allows

in our lives.

The priest and the Levite

in Jesus' parable

weren't prepared.

Look here at verse 31.

And it says,

and by chance,

there came down

a certain priest that way.

And it says,

likewise,

a Levite.

And by chance,

a chance meeting

is always an opportunity

to see what God is doing.

You know,

this chance meeting

was an appointment

orchestrated by God

who knows everything

about what's going to take place,

of what the need is.

You know,

including those who lead us

to intersect with someone

who has a need.

You know,

we never know

where somebody is.

That we could be a blessing

to them

or help them

or be able to direct them

towards the Lord.

You know,

we can be sure

that we find someone

with a spiritual need

and God intends us

to help them.

You know,

when we understand

that God wants us

to be a part,

He wants us

on those appointments

to step up

and do what we ought to do.

But we find

a deliberate indifference.

You know,

when we aren't prepared

ourselves,

we will let things go.

You know,

we've been looking

in the Old Testament

and reading about the kings

and one of the statements

in there

is he prepared his heart

to seek the Lord

is one of the phrases

you'll find

in there

talking about the kings.

They either prepared

their heart

or they didn't prepare

their heart

and had two different outcomes.

You know,

when it comes to looking

at this,

a lot of this

of how we look

at the opportunities

God's present

is based on how

we prepare our heart

to be observant for it.

Because if you're not

looking for something,

you'll walk right by it.

If you're not considering

those things,

you know,

you might say

that we need,

Jesus is dealing

with their spiritual

eyesight here.

you know,

it's interesting

that most Americans,

you know,

we're pretty diligent

about our physical sight.

I mean,

just look around.

It's another one

of those popular places.

You'll find eye places

all over the place.

You know,

and we have great concern

of things about

being able to see

and we spend

great resources.

It tells us

that there's roughly

43,000 brick and mortar

locations selling eyeglasses

in the United States.

You know,

there are about

197 million adult

vision correction users.

In other words,

about 75%

of the United States

has some sort

of vision correction

that they're able

to help them read

or to see.

You know,

many of them

are wearing

prescription eyeglasses

and doing all

the different things

to help,

you know,

even making sure

they look good

like why they see.

You know,

think about how much

money people spend

on frames.

You know,

you ever been to

the store

and maybe want

to make sure

I look good.

You know,

they spend a lot

of money

on those things

and the different

elements to make

sure we can see

physically.

But you know,

where are we at

when it comes

to our physical?

We might be that

diligent on our physical

but where are we at

in our spiritual eyesight

of seeing those

around us

that God would have?

You know,

when we prepare

our heart

because look here

at verse 31

and it says this,

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

the Levite

when he was

at the place

came and looked

on him

and passed by

on the other side.

The priest saw,

the Levite looked,

they both deliberately

chose to pass up

an opportunity.

Later they would have

rationalized away

their indifference.

You know,

it's interesting,

the priest saw,

that means that

he was on the other

side.

It's like,

don't disturb me

right now,

keep moving.

And the Levite,

you might say,

that's the rubber

necker.

You know,

the one on the

interstate

that's got to

slow down,

you know,

the rubber

necker.

Because it says

he went over

and he looked.

In other words,

he went over

and says,

dude,

you're in bad

shape.

But you know,

the problem with

both of them

is they just

kept going.

You know,

they could say,

well,

I was in a hurry,

I didn't have

time,

I didn't feel

qualified.

You know,

it looks too

risky,

you know,

or,

you know,

these statements

all ease our

conscience sometimes,

but it also

seeds the

indifference.

Because we can

become very

indifferent to

people sometimes

and not

understanding

where they are.

You know,

look over to

Matthew 24

for a moment.

Matthew 24

and verse 12.

Word of God

tells us this,

and because

iniquity shall

abound,

the love of

many shall

what?

wax cold.

You know,

we need to

understand the

importance of

what's taking

place.

You know,

we need to be

willing and

paying attention

to what God

would have,

how God

intends for us

to help

those that

cross our

path.

But let's look

here next at the

Good Samaritan

as we take the

rest of this time

here,

because,

you know,

the third man

is on his way

to Jericho,

the Good Samaritan.

he looked

and saw

the man's

plight as well,

but this man

chose to do

something with it.

In other words,

he didn't just

drive on by.

I got an appointment,

I got to be there.

He didn't stop

and rubberneck

along the way.

He saw that

there was

something happening.

He took time

and he went

and looked,

but then he

took action.

He said,

what can I do

to make a difference?

You know,

the Samaritan

in the New Testament

times were

looked down

upon.

You know,

think about,

when talking about

those of Samaria,

this is not like

the popular person.

This wasn't the guy

that said,

well,

I'm going to gain

favor with everybody.

He was already

at the bottom.

He wasn't looking

to see what he

could get out of it.

In society,

the Samaritans

were looked down

upon.

You know,

think about

when Jesus

speaks about

the Samaritan

woman at the well

in John chapter 4.

John 4 · chapter mention

This statement

is made

in verse 9.

It says,

Then saith the woman

of Samaria,

How is it that thou

being a Jew

askedest,

drink of me

which am a woman

of Samaria?

For the Jews

have no dealings

with the Samaritans.

This man

alongside the road

most likely

was Jewish.

And here's a Samaritan

that had no responsibility

you may say directly

stopped and took care

of him,

even though he knew

the guy probably

didn't even like him.

He was a doubtful

candidate,

you might say,

because a Samaritan

man in Jesus'

story was not

a likely choice

to help out

this wounded

and hurting man,

you know.

He would have been,

most would have

never thought anything

if he would have

passed on by.

If he just chose

to go his own

direction.

We see he's a

doubtful candidate,

but he also had

a determined compassion.

Because the Samaritan's

humility made him

alert to the victim's

need.

You know,

the Samaritan

saw the wounded man,

he had compassion

on him.

Look at verse 33.

What it says,

but a certain Samaritan

as he journeyed

came where he was

and when he saw him

he had what?

Compassion on him.

You know,

the reality is

if you're going to

help somebody

and truly be able

to help,

it starts in here.

Of looking at somebody

and says there's a need.

There's something

that needs to be met.

He had compassion

on him.

Because,

you know,

it doesn't start

with the doing,

it starts with the heart.

Because you know what?

If your heart's in it,

your hands are going to follow.

Your hands will do

what's on your heart to do.

You'll find time,

you'll find the energy

to do that.

And if you,

you know,

you figure out

why you would serve

and you'll figure out how.

You know,

when you want to do something,

you figure out the how behind it.

Because it becomes a priority.

You know,

because compassion

is a decision

that also drives us

and compassion

is what helps us

make a difference.

Look over in Jude 22.

22nd verse of Jude.

Notice what it says,

and on some having compassion,

doing what?

Making a difference.

You know,

Psalm 126 says,

they that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth

and weepeth

bearing precious seeds

shall doubtly come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves

with him.

You know,

that connection

of the determined compassion

for others

of what God

would have.

But while compassion

drives us

to choose to help

others in need,

compassion alone

is not enough.

You know,

compassion alone

is not enough

because you actually

need courage

to step in

to the life

of another person.

A devoted courage

to step out,

put yourself out there

to another person

to minister

to their need.

You know,

the Bible records

the Samaritan

didn't just see

the wounded man needs,

he went to him.

Look there in verse 34.

He didn't just do

what the others did.

He didn't just gawk,

he didn't just stop

and look and say,

man,

that guy's have problems.

It says that he took

a step,

he went to him,

you know,

and the reality

of going

and doing

what God

would have for us

to do,

it takes courage

to go,

to speak to people

about their need,

to reach out

to meet the needs

of others.

You know,

the reality

we need to be bold

for the Lord.

You know,

Proverbs 28 verse 1

Proverbs 28:1

says that the righteous

are bold as a lion.

You know,

we can be bold

in the things of God,

but sometimes

we'll let fear

keep you from going

on those paths

to help others

for Christ.

You know,

to realize that

God is with us.

God's the one

that's going to provide

what is needed

along the way.

You know,

to realize Isaiah

41 10 says,

Fear thou not

for I am with thee.

Be not dismayed

for I am thy God.

I will strengthen thee.

Yea,

I'll help thee.

Yea,

I'll uphold thee

with my right hand

of my righteousness.

You know,

when it comes

to the greatest

single need

every person has

is that of what?

What's every individual's

need that we meet?

Well,

what's the general need

that every person

you meet,

what's the need

that they have?

Salvation.

Think about that.

There's nobody you meet

that you ever talk to

that you ever interact

with that doesn't

have a need of salvation.

Every one of them

has the same need.

But what keeps us

from doing that

probably is what?

That great four-letter word.

What keeps you

from speaking out sometimes?

Fear.

You know,

it's an obstacle

that Satan tempts us

with to try to keep us

from sharing

the truth of the Gospels

with others.

You know,

to overcome that

is to rely upon him

and to be intentional

about doing it,

preparing yourself

to do it.

Because you know what?

You fail to do things

you don't prepare to do.

If you're not thinking

about it,

you'll pass on by.

Because we see

a deliberate charity

that this man had.

A good Samaritan,

the good Samaritan

had compassion,

he had courage,

he chose to minister

charity to the wounded man

by the side of the road.

And notice what it says

in verse 34.

It says,

And he went to him

and bound up his wounds,

pouring in oil and wine

and setting him

on his own beast,

and brought him to an inn

and took care of him.

And on the morrow

he departed

and 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.

You know,

the one thing about serving

and being able to help

is it going to cost you something.

You know,

we live in a day and age,

everybody likes everything for free.

The reality in life is

nothing is free.

You know,

the only thing that you have

that we say is free

is salvation.

Salvation isn't even free.

It doesn't cost you anything

because God already paid the price.

Something that's free to you

means somebody else

took care of the expense.

If you get it for nothing

means somebody else paid.

But we live in a culture

that we like the idea of free.

But free doesn't exist.

It's just a matter of who's paying.

Who's putting up the resource

for that to happen.

This Samaritan,

it cost him to minister

to the injured man

and he chose to pay the price.

You know,

you think about,

you know,

to ask ourselves,

are we willing to invest our time

and our treasure to help others?

You know,

we need to really consider

how are we using those things?

You know,

Philippians chapter 2

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

and verse 4 says,

look not every man

on his own things

but every man also

on the things of others.

You know,

what are we paying attention

to others?

You know,

even as a church family

those things ought to be.

But even outside the church

we ought to be.

You know,

what are the needs?

How can we meet that?

Do we,

as God provided

what is needed,

are we using those things properly?

You know,

because we find here also

a divine commendation

because when we see here

that God reveals,

Jesus reveals something to him

because,

think about it,

did the good Samaritan

receive a reward

for his ministry

to the half-dead man?

He didn't get a medal.

You know,

they didn't make a big ceremony.

Nobody showed up to celebrate.

You know,

you'll see that a lot.

Somebody does something,

it might say,

above and beyond

to help somebody

and we'll give them a medal

or we'll make recognition

of what they did.

But you know what?

Some of the most

helpful things

are things you'll never

get a medal

or recognition for.

If you're seeking recognition

you're doing it

for the wrong reason.

You know,

we don't know

if anyone actually

even saw what he did

other than the innkeeper.

You know,

we don't have any record

of anybody else

that even made note of it

except for Jesus

and the innkeeper.

How'd the innkeeper know?

Well,

he's the one

that saw it happening.

He saw him bring the man in

and bind up his wounds

and to take care of him

and to give resource

to make sure he was

continued to have that.

This innkeeper

was aware of

the benevolence

of this man.

You know,

we do not know

whether or not

the man

who was helped

ever even expressed

gratitude in return.

We know nothing

about the guy

who fell by the way

that was beaten

and robbed.

Nobody ever says

he came back

and thanked the guy.

We do know

how much more

was spent

on the man's

well-being

and was later

repaid by the Samaritan.

We don't know

how much more.

He says,

he has two pence,

but he says,

hey,

if he runs up

any bigger bill,

just let me know.

Next time I come through,

I'll pay it.

While there's no doubt

many more facts

of the story

aren't given to us,

but the Lord knew

the minute details

of this event

and this unnamed man

with compassion.

You know,

Jesus sees what's happening.

God sees what's going on

and how we're responding

to others.

You know,

Proverbs 15, 3 says,

the eyes of the Lord

are in every place

beholding the evil

and the good.

You know,

God sees what we do.

He sees what's taking place.

You know,

this is another one

of them stories

that Jesus is speaking

a parable

in this format.

But it makes me wonder

if Jesus is drawing

from things that God saw

because the story

is so connected

to reality

that it's very likely

it's something

that may have

actually happened.

Nobody else saw it.

They passed by

and it just went away.

But God took note.

Because I want you

to understand ministry

and how we minister

to people

is not always public.

You know,

sometimes people

like to do things

because other people

see it.

sometimes they

do things

because they're

going to get

praised for.

But you know what?

Ministry is

you don't always

get praised.

You don't always

get a round of applause.

Many times

it goes without

appreciation.

But you know what?

God always

is aware.

We ought not

to do it

because of what

somebody else

sees or does.

But knowing that

God is the one

paying attention.

look in the book

of Hebrews

for a moment.

Hebrews chapter 6

Hebrews 6 · chapter mention

in verse 10

it says,

For God is not

unrighteous to forget

your works and labor

of love which

ye have showed

towards his name

and that ye have

ministered to the

saints and do

minister.

You know?

I want you to

understand when we

minister we ought

not to be ministered

for what others

see but minister

for what God

sees.

What's God

see that you're

doing?

You know?

To understand

the importance

that we want

God to say

that we did

well.

You know?

His approval

is far more

valuable than

what you could

get here for

praise or reward

here upon the

earth.

When we stand

before him

and he says

well done

thou good

and faithful

servant.

That ought to

be our objective

of serving

because of what

God would have

for us.

And we're often

aware that God

is aware of

our sin but

forget the fact

that God's

also aware

of your

service.

God sees

what you're

doing.

The little

things.

You know

throughout

this week

you know

purposely

notice the

times you

took an

opportunity to

serve someone

else even if

no one else

noticed.

You know?

I want you to

understand that

might be

something simple

just to help

others along

the way to

understand the

importance of

ministry and

it's not always

what everybody

sees but it's

what takes place

in caring for

somebody else.

You know

it's stepping up

and meeting a

need and as

God's people we

often don't see

people as God

does.

You know have

you ever noticed

it's easy to see

people as a threat

see people as a

bother see people

as insignificant

but Jesus here

brings this parable

to teach us to

set aside our

preconceived things

and to demonstrate

the love of Christ

to others just

as he did to

us.

To set forth

those things

because often

times we operate

like the priest

and the Levite

looking at the

man and saying

that's too much

trouble or it's

inconvenient or

I have other

responsibilities

instead of

stopping to say

this is where I

need to be

this is what God

would have for

me to do

to help.

You know it's

not one thing

about serving

others it's not

easy it's not

convenient you

know it doesn't

happen at the

most convenient

times you know

ministry and

serving God

isn't on a time

clock.

Sometimes it's

inconvenient.

Sometimes it

costs us something

but we need to be

intentional in our

service.

You know when we

understand the

importance and

ask the question

and answer the

question that Jesus

asked here of

who is your

neighbor?

He gives an

illustration.

Your neighbor is

the one that has

need.

Something to keep

in mind this week

to understand the

balance as even as

we help not only

one another but

help others also

because compassion

is just not inside

a church family and

I believe a church

family ought to have

compassion one for

another.

We ought to care.

We ought to do

what we can to help

one another but also

outside also.

What things can we

do?

How can we make an

impact in the

place that God

has us?

Where can you make

an impact where God

has you?

Because you're

going to come

across people each

day that somebody

else in here isn't

going to come

across.

They're people God

has put in your

path saying what

are you going to

do at that

moment?

Is your heart

prepared to be a

good neighbor to

those around us?

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father,

as we come before

you this morning,