A recent event gave me the opportunity to experience my own “Good Samaritan” moment. But, unlike the Good Samaritan, I failed my love test. At least, I would have, if the test hadn’t been hypothetical.
The Ultimate Love Test
You probably remember this parable Jesus told. You can find it in Luke 10:25-37.
A lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by asking what is written in the Law, and the lawyer answers: to love God with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love his neighbor as himself. Jesus tells him that he has answered correctly.
Who is my neighbor?
The lawyer, both wanting to test Jesus and justify himself, asks, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds by telling the famous parable.
A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, who strip him of his clothes, beat him, and leave him half-dead. A priest comes by, sees the man, and passes by on the other side. A Levite comes along later and does the same.
Then, a Samaritan, an enemy of the Jews, comes by and sees the injured man. He takes pity on him and bandages his wounds, after treating them with oil and wine. He puts the man on his own donkey, leads him to an inn, and takes care of him. But he doesn’t stop there. The next day, the Samaritan gives the innkeeper two denarii (about two days’ wages) and asks him to continue looking after the man. He promises to reimburse any extra expenses once he returns.
The one who showed mercy
At the end of the story, Jesus asks the lawyer which of the three men was a neighbor to the injured man. The lawyer replies, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus then tells him, “Go and do likewise.”
This story highlights how crucial it is for us to show grace and mercy to others, regardless of their background or status, or how busy we think we are. Jesus’ tale also defines a “neighbor” as anyone who shows mercy to someone in need of help. Even their worst enemies. The people who wish to harm them.
My Personal Love Test
Not long ago, as I was driving the younger girl to school, I approached an intersection that always has limited visibility. I peered through the breaks in the bushes as I neared and saw nothing. No car was coming.
Then, as I entered the intersection to turn left, I had to slam on my brakes. A car appeared, basically out of nowhere. It veered over into the other lane and zoomed off.
My daughter asked, “Did that woman just flip us off? Did she give us the finger?”
Carefully keeping my eyes on the road, I shook my head. “I don’t know. I didn’t see.”
Rescue the one who hates you – and his donkey
Earlier that morning, I’d read Exodus 23:5 (ESV):
“If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.”
All my life, I’ve just thought of “loving my enemies” (Matthew 5:44) as a passive kind of “do no harm” state of being. But love is always an action verb. God call us to an active form of love, even for those who wish harm on us.
I was confronted by my own puny ability to love that day. If that woman’s car had been knocked over into a ditch, would I have helped her get her car out? Or would I have indifferently kept on going? Worse, would I have stopped the car and stood, pointing and laughing at her?
I’m not sure what my actual response would have been. But I’m fairly certain I would have failed that love test.
Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
About 700 years before Jesus walked the earth and shared this story of the Good Samaritan, the prophet Micah shared a message with the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. In it, he told them exactly what the Lord required of them:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NIV)
My daughter’s response was one of alarm at the injustice of the situation. True, I had almost pulled out right into that woman’s car. But I did not do so intentionally, and my daughter knew that. She felt the woman’s reaction was a little extreme, considering the facts.
But that woman whose car I almost hit didn’t know I wasn’t trying to hit her. Maybe she didn’t care.
Is justice always just?
My daughter felt the need for justice in that moment. I just felt relief because I hadn’t actually hit the other car, so everyone was at least physically okay. Besides that, I didn’t see the woman’s rude action. If I had, maybe my reaction would have been different.
Still, while I wasn’t that concerned with justice, I also wasn’t thinking much about extending mercy to that lady, either. Not the kind of mercy that’s indicated in that command to rescue your enemy and his donkey.
Or even in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
That kind of love in action looks a lot like humility.
Jesus Knew His Audience
Who was this guy who was asking these questions of Jesus? He was a Jewish lawyer.
Someone who had worked professionally with the Law for who knows how long. And someone who likely had memorized the entire Torah (the first five books of our Old Testament) by the time he was ten years old.
Most likely, Jesus had done the same – if He even needed to memorize the words of the book, because he is the Word. But I imagine that lawyer just saw Jesus as a carpenter – the son of a carpenter – who hung out all the time with a bunch of smelly fishermen.
I imagine, as he asked his questions, he had an air of superiority about him that Jesus no doubt picked up on. And maybe that’s why the first two men mentioned in the story were supposed to be men who knew a great deal about the law.
Just like that inquiring lawyer.
Was that woman in the car a lawyer?
I don’t know anything about that woman in the car who flipped me the bird. I don’t even remember what kind of car she drove.
At the time of the incident, I imagine she was feeling superior to me. I had no such feelings toward her because I was too shocked at what might have happened. I’m trying to keep such feelings at bay, even now, because seeds of entitlement and bitterness take root very easily if you don’t take care to dig them out and burn them up.
Based on that one encounter with her, however, I can sense that humility probably isn’t high on her list of character traits she wants to develop. I could be wrong. After all, as I’ve mentioned, I’m not that good at practicing humility myself. But I do desire to walk humbly before God and others, because that is what He requires of me.
The Good Samaritan was no lawyer
Although the Jews and Samaritans differed in terms of scriptural interpretations and what they deemed to be sacred worship sites, they were both very familiar with the Torah. Jesus knew this, and he knew the lawyer did too.
So, Jesus’ Samaritan would have known the verse in Exodus I mentioned above about his enemy’s donkey. And maybe he remembered that verse and thought, ‘Hey. If I should help out my enemy with his donkey when he’s in trouble, surely I should help out my enemy, who is made in the image of God, just like I am.’
That is the definition of humility – seeing ourselves as not less than or better than others. We are all equal at the foot of the cross (Galatians 3:28).
Don’t Let Crime and Cruelty Grow
A beautiful hymn based on Micah 6:8 is appropriately titled, “What Does the Lord Require?” One of its stanzas says the following:
“Rulers of earth, give ear! Should you not justice show? Will God your pleading hear, while crime and cruelty grow? Do justly; love mercy; walk humbly with your God.”
While this verse speaks to the importance of social justice, it holds implications for practicing personal justice, as well.
Part of what horrifies us about the story of the Good Samaritan is the active avoidance of the priest and the Levite. The poor, injured man had been a victim of both crime and cruelty perpetrated by the robbers. But the experts in the Law, instead of showing the love God required, let cruelty grow by passing by on the other side of the road.
Our active avoidance or passive indifference toward others’ pain may actually increase their suffering. That, of course, is the opposite of love.
Love Always Costs More Than We Want to Give
In my earlier views on loving my enemies, I was missing the mark. Missing the point, really. Not actively harming someone who hates me isn’t good enough. I have to get down in the dirt with them and help them in some way, if I’m truly going to love them as Jesus calls me to.
I have to help them pick up their donkey.
But I’m not even that good at loving people who don’t hate me.
How many times have I ignored, or actively avoided, homeless people on the street because I feared they might ask me for help?
Sometimes I stop and help and spend some time talking and praying with them. More often than not, though, I’m running away from these fellow image bearers. These people God loves. These souls Jesus died for.
Why do I think they’re not worth a few minutes of my time? Because I’m not practicing humility. Not reflecting His character to the world around me. Not spreading the extravagant love and mercy he has shown me to others who need to know that He loves them.
I’m not willing to set aside my pride. My wants. My priorities. If I truly want to love as Jesus loves, I have to let go of that selfish part of me.
Growing in the Spirit, Growing in Love
The good news for me (and maybe for you too, if you find yourself struggling with humility and love like I do) is that because I’m still alive, it is possible for me to grow in my ability to love. I just have to commit to doing two things.
Stay connected to the vine
In another passage of Scripture, Jesus talks specifically to His disciples. Those who want to learn from Him and follow His way of living and loving.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ,,, Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. … As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:1, 4, 9-10; NIV)
Love starts with God, and it flows to us through Jesus, and then to others through us. If we let it, that is.
Submit to the Holy Spirit
In another familiar passage of Scripture, Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit. The proof that the Holy Spirit is doing His work in our hearts and lives. Love is the very first thing mentioned because, as Paul says elsewhere, “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
As we consciously submit to the work of the Holy Spirit inside us by putting off our old selves and putting on our new selves (Ephesians 4), we can grow in the kind of love God wants us to show.
We can:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)
If You Remember Nothing Else About This Post
I hope you’ve learned something through this glimpse into my personal spiritual struggles. There are some key takeaways I want to be sure you can remember, so I’m going to boil them down here for the sake of clarity.
- The Importance of Mercy and Compassion: The story of the Good Samaritan emphasizes the need to show grace and mercy to others, regardless of their background, status, or any personal hang-ups or situational specifics. Jesus challenges us to act compassionately even toward those we may consider enemies.
- Love is an Action Verb: Love isn’t just a passive emotion. It has to be demonstrated through our actions. This includes helping even those who wish us harm, as illustrated by the Samaritan’s story and the command given to the Israelites in Exodus 23:5.
- Reflecting on Personal Shortcomings: As I’ve indicated by sharing my personal experience, it can be difficult to live up to the high standards God sets for us. But acknowledging our own failings in relation to showing love and mercy is a crucial step toward growth in both.
- Justice, Mercy, and Humility: The teachings from Micah 6:8 and the related hymn emphasize God’s timeless demands for justice, mercy, and humility. These principles should guide our interactions with others.
- Active Avoidance and Indifference: The story of the Good Samaritan and my own story show how active avoidance or passive indifference can actually increase others’ suffering, which is in direct disobedience to God’s command to love.
- Humility at the Foot of the Cross: Recognizing that we are all equal at the foot of the cross (Galatians 3:28) can help us grow in humility. It also reminds us to see others as equals, who are deserving of love and compassion.
- Love Costs More Than We Want to Give: Genuine love often requires more effort and sacrifice than we might be willing to offer. It’s about going the extra mile to help those in need, regardless of how we feel about them.
- Personal Growth in Love and Compassion: Growing in love and compassion is an ongoing process. As we learn from our experiences, we can align our actions with the teachings of Jesus.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, Lord, empty us of our pride, fear, and apathy. Fill us with humility, courage, and compassion. Let Your love flow through us in all our interactions with others. It’s in the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Thanks for visiting today. If you loved this post, would you please share it with a friend or two?
And if you’re looking for more, come join me over at Substack. Every five days, I release a new podcast episode for free subscribers, where I discuss all things related to writing, life, and faith, all in under five minutes.
Each month paid subscribers get:
- a new flash fiction or short story to read
- live Q&A sessions with yours truly
- mini educational sessions to help improve your writing and your mental, spiritual, and physical wellness