Image by: jenny downing

Introduction

Some one once said, “Christians are like fertilizer. Pile them up in one place long enough and they’ll begin to stink. But spread them out and they’ll do some good.”

1. In today’s sermon I am going to talk about doing good to others. The Bible calls this ministry.

2. Most people think ministry means to serve God. This is not wrong but not 100% correct either. In ministry we help people on behalf of God.

3. Today’s message comes from the story of the Good Samaritan which I believe all of you are familiar with – when reading this story you might feel guilty remembering that you passed by some one in need at one time or another.

4. You will ask me what am I supposed to do? The scope of this message is to answer that question.

Read: Luke 10:30-37

1. First check whether you have got the right attitude?

A. The insecure attitude, (Luke 10:31)

I. This was the attitude of the first man to pass by the victim.

II. He lived a lifestyle of avoidance.

III. Such people are afraid of getting closer to people. They keep everyone in arm’s length.

IV. If I don’t get involved I won’t get hurt.

Illustration: An old man was standing on a crowded bus. A young man standing next to him asked, “What time is it?” The old man said nothing. As the young man walked away, the old man’s friend asked, “Why were you so rude to the young man?” The old man answered, “If I had given him the time of day, he’d want to know where I am going. Then we might talk about our interests. If we did that he might invite himself to my house for dinner. If he came to my house, he would meet my lovely daughter. If he met her, they would both fall in love and frankly, I don’t want my daughter marrying someone who can’t afford a watch.

V. Over the centuries man has developed a life style of isolation. (Online shopping, email etc. Technology is good. But leads to isolation if used carelessly)

VI. The English idiom – “Good fences make good neighbors.” It is better for people to mind their own business and to respect the privacy of others.

B. Curious but uninvolved, (Luke 10:32)

I. This was the attitude of the second man who passed by the victim.

II. Worse than first attitude. The first man saw but ignored. This man saw, acknowledged – but didn’t do anything else.

III. When you are curious but uninvolved you produce food for gossip!

IV. The curious and uninvolved are only good in judging the victims.

Illustration 1: In a situation of automobile accident most traffic jams are caused by people on the other side of the road wanting to see what happened in an accident, but who have no intention of stopping to help.

Illustration 2: When a demon possessed person is prayed for others gather around just to watch.

C. Treating others the way I like to be treated, (Luke 10:33-35)

I. This is the attitude that the good Samaritan exhibited.

II. God has called every Christian to have this attitude.

III. Serving and following Christ go hand in hand.

Illustration: Christians like to be visited by the Senior Pastor or the church staff in times of need. It’s not wrong. But many excuses are given when they are asked to visit a fellow believer in need. If you want to serve people on behalf of God treat them the way you like to be treated.

2. Now cultivate the attitude of the good Samaritan. How?

A. Start seeing the needs of people around you?

I. We meet needy people every day, (Not only the physically needed. What about those with emotional hurts).

II. Your eyes is the birth place of kindness.

III. You can’t care until you are aware.

B. What keeps us from seeing the needs of people?

I. Busyness

II. Ignorance

C. How to see their needs?

I. Slow down and look around you.

II. Stop to talk to some one.

III. Give them your undivided attention.

3. Sympathize with people’s pain (be compassionate)

A. Just seeing the need is not enough

Illustration: Most people who see the helpless simply blames the government or church for not doing anything.

I. To sympathize means to feel how others feel. (When the Samaritan saw the wounded man, he had pity on him. – Luke 10:33)

II. Romans 12:5 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15, NET)

B. How to sympathize with others?

I. To do so one must give up his prejudices and stop making assumptions about others.

II. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other so much, people were surprised when Jesus made a Samaritan the hero of the story.

III. Learn to see the people around you as Jesus sees them. God cares for everyone. If you want to serve people you must care for those who God cares for.

IV. Learn to Listen: Sometimes the greatest way to serve some one is just listening, (Galatians 6:2). There’s a story behind every need.

C. Learn from your struggles

I. God allows certain struggles in your life so that you can learn to sympathize with and serve the needy and hurting people around you.

II. “Who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4, NET)

4. Seize the opportunity and meet the need – How?

A. Take action

I. Don’t wait.

II. Don’t delay

III. Don’t procrastinate. Do what you can at that moment, (Proverbs 3:27-28)

B. Get down to the victim’s level

I. The Samaritan stooped down and got on the man’s level.

II. The Samaritan didn’t act superior.

C. Be willing to take the risk

I. In order to seize the moment, you must be willing to take a risk.

II. The Samaritan took a risk: What if the robbers were still in the area?

III. We don’t like to get involved with other’s pain and brokenness because it reminds us of our own.

5. Be willing to sacrifice yourself

A. Serving is costly

I. It costs you money

II. It costs you time

III. It costs you energy

B. You might not gain anything in return

I. The Samaritan took the injured man to a motel.

II. He likely had to travel a great distance.

III. He nursed the victim throughout the night and then paid the bill at personal expense. What did he gain? Nothing.

III. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. (Galatians 6:10, NET)

6. Wrapping it up

A. If you want to fulfill God’s calling to serve others:

I. First Grow an attitude of love.

II. Be compassionate.

III. Don’t ignore opportunities to help some one.

IV. Be willing to pay the price.

B. Don’t get discouraged when you are not appreciated

I. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, NET)

C. Take action today

I. Go to your Pastor and find out in which ways you can be a help.

II. Consider what talents and gifts you have that your church needs and could use.