Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”— when you now have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. (Proverbs 3:27–29, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Not withholding good and not plotting harm are not restricted to those who deserve good or our neighbor. It is human nature to want to draw narrow lines around such things to justify our actions, inaction, indifference, or prejudices. But the one who said, “do not commit adultery” also said “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28, NIV 1984). The lines are not as narrow as we might think or wish.
As for those who would draw those narrow lines around who might be our neighbor or those deserving of our good, Jesus told this parable:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins 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.’ ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.'” (Luke 10:30–37, NIV 1984).
The man who “fell into the hands of robbers?” Presumably a Jew. Those who ignored his plight? Not merely a fellow Jew, but the Jewish religious elite – a priest and a Levite. The one “who took pity on him? Bandaged his wounds? Took care of him?” A Samaritan, despised by the Jews. Instructive, don’t you think?
My Advice – So, how should we “go and do likewise?” It should come as no surprise that Jesus has something to say about that too. “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. But love your enemies, do good to them.” (Luke 6:27-28, 32-33, 45, NIV 1984). Enemies, those who are different, those who we don’t think deserve it, those who don’t reciprocate or show their appreciation. You get the drift.
“Do good to them.” Not just “those who deserve it.” Not just “your neighbor.” Jesus sets a higher standard for His followers. Let’s do what we can to live up to them. “Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35–36, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 