Day 15
Getting Close
No one is good……except God alone.
Mark 10:18
Of course, no one is good, but can we get close?
On the way to His cross, Jesus stopped numerous times to tell His disciples what was expected of all His followers. What we now call the Sermon on the Mount is filled with descriptors of good behavior, literally a list of action verbs leading to good deeds to goodness. The troubling part was and is the impossibility of fulfilling them. Like praying for our enemies. Or giving the shirt off our backs. Or turning the other cheek. In one of His appearances following resurrection, Jesus would tell them to wait. He was sending help, help He described as even more powerful than He. Enter the Holy Spirit and the means of our fulfilling those commands. Goodness can be approached.
Jesus created a parable to show his disciples the what and the how of loving one’s neighbor. Most are familiar with the story of the Samaritan who would aid his fellow human when religious folk would not. He rendered aid. He escorted him to a place where care could be continued. He didn’t stop there. He promised to return and pay for any additional care. The extra mile. Goodness demonstrated.
As a high school principal, I’ve observed several Samaritans. An Ag teacher whose primary job was to watch over high-dollar steers for well-heeled students comes to mind. He had the uncanny ability and willingness to deal with the unlovable, angry, disruptive student. First, he accepted the kid as is. Then he discovered and nurtured that kid’s ability with the welder, saw, or leather tool. Often, he told the kid that the school covered the materials he was working with, when actually the money came from his own pocket. He purposefully stayed connected to the kid till graduation. More than once, I awarded one of these kids with a scholarship funded by that Ag teacher. Goodness achieved.
God surely has intended for us to be good all along. He provided examples to follow. In the Old Testament, the story of Ruth’s goodness has been preserved. Naomi, a widow and without any living sons, was probably as alone as one could be. She had two daughters-in-law, but they were young and from a different country. Though widows themselves, they were young enough to remarry and have fulfilling lives. Yet, Ruth gave it all up to take care of and support Naomi. Left her own country. Left any family she had there. In Naomi’s country, her prospects for marriage were nil for she was from a people group despised by the Jews. Why? She saw someone in need. She could help. She was good.
Another Boyd High School example. Our long-time business teacher, a spinster, was not fully appreciated by our students. Strict. Abrupt. A perfectionist at the keyboard or on the spreadsheet. But she had a keen eye and a sensitive ear to see physical needs as well as a need for direction. I often got credit for giving coats and shoes when she actually paid for them. However, her real service was to enumerable girls at BHS who were redirected, referred, and supported through some sticky situations. She saw a hurting student. She spent the time. She did her homework. She used her own resources. Like the Ag teacher, it wasn’t a one-off, but a career. She was a Samaritan.
There are common denominators in the Bible stories I’ve referenced and those job-oriented stories I’ve experienced. An awareness of the imperatives laid out by Jesus in his sermon. An awareness of hurting people around them. A knowledge of one’s potential to aid. A denial of self. A courage to intercede. A faith in success. We who are believers have the promised Holy Spirit to rely on should we feel weak in any of these. Pair them all up; in the Spirit, we can do good. We can get close.
FURTHER REFLECTION:
Think about the fears that keep you from responding to those in need. How can you overcome these so that you can be a blessing to someone else?
If your personal budget is tight, what other ways can you extend help to others?
PRAYER:
Lord, I seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to recognize those in my path who are in need. To bind my natural selfishness. To help me be bold in my response, and finally to persevere long-term in my help. Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 24: 49, Matthew 5, Luke 10: 25-37, Ruth: 1-4
by Jerry Howard