On a recent episode of the ABC TV program “What Would You Do” they had an actor pretend to be a homeless person. Another actor would bring him to a restaurant/bar and give the bartender $20 to pay for a meal for the supposedly homeless bum. After paying for the meal, the actor would immediately go to an appointment and leave the homeless person with the bartender who was also another actor. The bartender would then begin to berate and humiliate the homeless person, and even try to keep the $20.00 without giving him his meal. The audience would then be able to observe the actions of the patrons of the restaurant/bar.
Some of the patrons of the restaurant/bar were very compassionate and caring. They reprimanded the bartender for negative actions towards the homeless person and insisted that he treat him with dignity and provide him with a meal. Others were not so nice. They wanted nothing to do with him, and joined in with the bartender in trying to get the homeless person out of the restaurant because they did not want to eat anywhere near him. So, what would you have done?
Matthew 22:39 (NIV) says “Love your neighbor as yourself”, and Matthew 7:12 (NIV) tells us “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets”. If you are wondering who is your neighbor you can read the Parable of the Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37:
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 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. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[a] 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.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
From this passage we can see that our neighbor is anyone who needs our help, even if they would not have helped you if the situation was reversed.
We need to take stock each day and ask ourselves: “Am I treating others the way I would want them to treat me?” Think about it. We all love for others to me merciful, kind, forgiving towards us, but do we extend to others those same actions? Even the most ardent atheist would acknowledge that if people treated each other they way they would like to be treated the effect on society would be enormous.
Think of a time when you were in desperate need of help and someone came to your aid. What did that aid mean to you in your suffering and pain?
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