Today, Dr. Dave continued our series "Made for More," focusing on the incredible power of generosity in our lives and how every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a significant impact. God so loved the world that He gave. Being generous is about pleasing God but also helping our community. When He speaks to you about a seed (generosity extended), He always has a harvest in mind (a bigger purpose and a blessing bigger than we can ask, think or imagine).
In Luke 10, we continue with Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan got “off his donkey” and helped someone. More of us need to get off our donkeys. In 2012, Meghan Vogel helped another runner cross the finish line in a state final. She later commented that it was far more satisfying to help the other girl cross that finish than it would have been to win the race.
You can help someone else across the finish line. You can breathe new life into another person. Keeping the Good Samaritan in mind, who should you help? Who’s your neighbor? The story of the Samaritan was Jesus’ response to that same question. We don’t know the injured man’s nationality. All we know is he was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and that it was a dangerous road to travel. In that situation, there would have been two ways to recognize a person, their clothes and their accent. This man’s clothes were stripped off him and he was half dead so he couldn’t speak. There was no way to tell if he was a friend or an enemy. Jesus uses a priest and Levite to give examples of how easy it would be to miss an opportunity to help someone.
Why do we miss opportunities to help others?
- We’re Too Busy to Notice: In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to overlook opportunities to help others. The priest in the story of the Good Samaritan was likely too busy with his religious duties to stop and help the injured man. Often, it's not that we don't have time; it's that we don't make the time. Your schedule reflects your priorities, and making time for others shows how much you care.
- Fear of Complications: Helping others can sometimes get messy. The priest would no longer have been lawfully consecrated if he had helped the injured man. He would’ve had to go through the cleansing process to be able to fulfill his duties at the temple. When you engage with broken people, things can get complicated, but true compassion requires us to step out of our comfort zones.
- Afraid to Take Risks: The Levite might have been afraid of the risks involved. What if the robbers were still around? The right thing to do is often the hardest thing to do. However, taking risks to help others can lead to incredible blessings.
- Expecting Someone Else to Do It: It's easy to think that someone else will step in to help. The Levite might have thought, "If the priest didn't stop, why should I?" But if everyone expects someone else to help, no one will. We must take personal responsibility to make a difference.
Generosity is about giving your time, talents, and resources to bless others. Whether it's a kind word, helping a neighbor, or supporting a cause, every act of generosity can make a big difference. Are you so focused on what’s ahead that you miss what’s presenting itself right now? Leadership is about serving the person right in front of you. Embrace these opportunities. What if it gets complicated? What if you help and they want a relationship or friendship? Everyday we have the opportunity to bless others. Be open to what lies on the other side of each opportunity. True religion gets dirty going to where the needs are. Get down low to help and lift someone up. You’ll never be higher in God's eyes than when you do this.
Sometimes, God calls us to do something uncommon to see uncommon results. Uncommon seeds always produce uncommon harvests. If you're believing for big things, be prepared to make big sacrifices. I believe that helping others can act as a catalyst for the change you need in your own life. When you give, it comes back to you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over (Luke 6:38). Your generosity can set into motion miracles in your own life and the lives of others.
We’re not a courtroom, we’re a hospital. Let’s love people back to life. God has placed you where you are to make a difference, an eternal difference in people. Let's be a church that makes a difference, not by going to church but by being the church. Together, we can bring hope, love, and comfort to a world in need, one neighbor at a time.
