Jump Start # 1394

Luke 10:35 “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.”

  Our passage today comes from the wonderful story we know as the good Samaritan. This was a parable that Jesus used to answer a lawyer who was a bit too full of himself and truly didn’t have the heart that he should have had.

The parable is rich with lessons. There is the man who is minding his own business and traveling alone. Then there are the thieves that no only rob the man, but beat him and leave him for dead. Then there is the priest and the Levite who ignore the injured man. They may have had their reasons or their excuses, but they illustrated the high and mighty religious sect in Jesus’ day that was long on talk and short on doing. Too good for others, and too much pride in themselves. The hero of the day is a Samaritan, someone who would have been shunned, mocked and ignored by the established Jews. The Samaritan stopped and helped the injured. Had it been a Jew seeing an injured Samaritan, he would have walked on and ignored him.

Jesus uses this to story to show who is our neighbor. It is anyone that we can help. The Samaritan didn’t preach a sermon to the injured about the dangers of walking alone. He didn’t seem to ask him “the whys” this happened. He just stopped and he did what he could. The story ends with Jesus saying, “go and do thou likewise.” Go do this. Repeat this. Be this kind of person.

Our verse brings out two interesting thoughts for us.

First, “on the next day,” the text reads. The Samaritan took the injured man to the inn. We often think that he dropped him off and went on his way. Such a nice act. But according to the text, the Samaritan stayed with the injured man through the night. It was the “next day,” that he left. The plans of the Samaritan changed. He had to rearrange his schedule and what he was doing. Taking care of this injured man was now the most important thing. He didn’t just drop a few coins in the injured man’s hand and leave him with a promise that I hope you get better, “I’ll say a prayer for you.” No. He poured oil on his wounds, put him on the donkey, took him to the inn, and stayed with him through the night. The Samaritan poured himself into the care of that injured man. Not too busy to care for another. Not believing the idea that “I don’t want to get involved.” He did get involved. He made a difference.

Second, our verse tells us that the Samaritan paid two denarii, which is two days wages and left a promise to return and pay for any more expenses. Why? It wasn’t his problem? He showed compassion and love. The injured man didn’t have any money, he was robbed. Who would pay for these things? Why injure the man further with financial stress and burdens. He would take care of it.

Now, here is something that is interesting. In the 2014 “Survey of Household Economics and Decision making,” as reported in USA Today, 47%, nearly half of Americans, could not cover an emergency in their home costing $400. Nearly half of Americans could not come up with $400. The survey said that they would either have to sell something or borrow it, which means going into debt. The air conditioner goes out, the car breaks down, a medical emergency, and half of Americans couldn’t deal with the costs. It further implies that nearly half of Americans are not saving and are living paycheck to paycheck. This sad stat affects our passage today. Coming across a need, nearly half couldn’t do anything because they do not have the money to take care of their own emergencies. A modern Samaritan would have to leave the injured man because he wouldn’t have any money to leave at the inn.

Stewardship means not only taking care of ourselves and our families, but living in such a way that we can be God’s tools when opportunities arise. This financial statistic is troublesome. It would hinder some from doing hospitality, just don’t have the money. The Galatians 6:10, “as we have opportunity let us do good to all men, especially to the household of faith,” falls flat because there is no money to do good. It is all spent. I have known of far too many folks, preachers especially, who have passed away, having no life insurance and placing their families in a financial burden. Who will pay for the funeral? Who will now pay for the mortgage? This is not good stewardship. Life insurance isn’t that expensive.

I wonder if we walk on the other side of opportunities because we simply tell ourselves, “We don’t have any money.” Opportunities to help. Opportunities to let our lights shine. Opportunities to be the neighbor that Jesus wants us to. Opportunities missed because there is no money.

Congregations for years have steered clear of discussing money matters, thinking that such topics do not belong in Biblical discussions. Failing to see that Jesus talked more about money than He did Heaven, and failing to instruct others about our responsibilities to help others, a generation has grown that doesn’t understand money and Biblical principles. I earn it, I get to spend it, ALL, is the thinking of too many. Viewing credit cards as cash, instead of debt, living paycheck to paycheck affects contributions. It affects what happens down the road when a person no longer can work. What then? If I have less than $400 that I could use for an emergency, how will I live after I no longer can work? Go to the church for help? Are we crippling the good that can be done by not being good stewards today? How many Samaritans die on the road because there is no money to help or our purse strings are pulled too tight because we want to spend our money only on ourselves.

These are thoughts that need to be openly discussed. This not only affects today, but greatly affects tomorrow. Parents living paycheck to paycheck, piling up deep debt, are showing their children and the next generation, what to do. It will continue unless someone says “enough,” and starts becoming more responsible.

The Samaritan wasn’t just one who was a neighbor, compassionate, helpful, but he was one who had some money and shared it when there was a need.

Could you cover an emergency that cost $400? Would you have to use your credit card to do that? Have you given serious thought to your handling of money and Biblical principles? Maybe it’s time to have those discussions. Maybe it’s time to make some adjustments. Maybe it’s time…

Roger