Service: Getting to Know the Neighbors

Last week, I spent my vacation surrounded by "gated communities." The condo where I stayed literally was tucked away deep inside one of these communities, a forgotten by-product of the original weekenders who built homes on the lake as respite from the drudgery and distastefulness of the big city. There was one way in and two ways out, but you had to be a card-carrying member of the community to exit from the more convenient gate. Mine was a modest "neighborhood" compared to the others that lay farther up the road, and seriously, there really was only one road in and out. The farther a person drove up the road, the smaller and more exclusive the "communities" became. I didn't know my "neighbors," and they didn't know me!

On my return home, I sat down to review what our kids at church are learning this month. I found it not the least bit ironic that we are going to be discovering what it means to serve - lending a hand to help someone else. Just as last month, the questions put to the kids this month are ones most adults are uncomfortable answering. Just for starters, I had to ask myself two toughies - What in the world am I doing that's more than I have to do, and what am I doing to help someone that others won't help. I'm not the least bit surprised that the Lord's been working on me anyway about being a servant, so this study is just reinforcing the fact that he's trying to get my attention and teach me something!

The Bible is unequivocal about what service looks like for a Christian. We don't have to look any farther than Jesus' life. He is the perfect example of a servant, and we have clear instructions to be like Christ. Too often, though, we are much like a young lawyer who challenged Jesus to define "neighbor" because he was looking for a loophole, a good excuse to serve only folks of his choosing (Luke 10:25-29). Rather than take him to task, Jesus told a parable of a good Samaritan (someone not welcomed in the "gated communities" of Jesus day). Two men - both religious leaders - who should have taken the time to stop and care for a man who had been robbed, beaten, and left for dead, literally crossed the road to avoid coming near the injured man. The third man, the Samaritan, came along, saw the man and "...had compassion on him" (Luke 10:33). He dressed his wounds, placed him on his "beast," and took him to an inn where he paid for the man's care. Jesus then posed the question to the young lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor..." to the injured man (Luke 10:36). In Matthew 25:35-40, we're told that if we are inherit the kingdom prepared for us, we are to minister to the hungry, thirsty, needy, prisoners, and strangers. Not only are they our neighbors, they are called by Jesus, "...the least of my brethren" (Matthew 25:40).

This parable isn't new to me; I've heard it preached and read it more times than I can count. I think I ought to have it figured out by now who my neighbor is - pretty much everyone, even people I don't find attractive, likable, or safe. When I read it this time, I realized that the Samaritan was compassionate because he saw himself in the man left for dead. Both the priest and Levite saw this man, as well as the Samaritan, as undesirable, not fit for their "community" and certainly not worthy of their help. 

I have to remind myself that all of us are alike - we are sinners saved by the same grace that God gives unconditionally (Ephesians 2:8-9). All of us have been "robbed and beaten" by sin that has left us near dead. God's incredible compassion and mercy made sure that we had a means of rescue - salvation as a result of the service Jesus did for us on the cross. He gave his life that we might live. He paid the full price for our restoration. So, when I look at the people around me, I must be moved to compassion as the Samaritan man was because I should see myself in them. They are my neighbors, and I have a directive from my heavenly Father to serve them. 

Initially, we are drawn to Christianity because of Jesus' example - he was a servant. We are slower, though, to grasp that as followers of Christ, we are to become like him (Ephesians 2:10). We always will serve someone or something (Matthew 6:19-21,24). The desire of our hearts should be, then, to serve in such a way that we honor God by helping our neighbors.

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..." Ephesians 6:7

Lord, you know me! You know that going the extra mile and serving people - even ones I know and love - just doesn't come easy to me. You also know that I want to be like you. Thank you for understanding my weaknesses and for giving me so many opportunities to learn to be a servant. I pray that I will allow your Holy Spirit to lead me, prompt me, teach me, and convict me when I am disobedient. Use me, Lord. I want to be your servant. Amen.

Parenting - "Up a Tree" Looking for Answers!

One of my favorite Bible stories is that of Zacchaeus, the "wee little man" (Luke 19:1-10). He was both literally and figuratively "up a tree" when he met Jesus. At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves "up a tree" like Zacchaeus, looking for a way out of our desperate situation. 

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Maybe he had heard that Jesus wasn't like other religious leaders, or perhaps he was just curious. Quite probably he longed for redemption and restoration into God's family. Nevertheless, Zacchaeus knew he would have to be proactive if he was to see who Jesus was (Luke 19:3-4). Like Zacchaeus, when the Holy Spirit begins to work in our hearts, we will have a strong desire for God. We may not know exactly what we're looking for, but we're driven to seek for "it." We will do anything and look everywhere to find the piece and the peace that's missing. 

Because Zacchaeus was small in stature, he climbed "up a tree" rather than stay "down on the street," among the crowd, hoping to see Jesus. When we seek what's missing in our lives, our ability to see is obstructed by the crowd of distractions of this life. We try things and come up empty. We have to look "up" and shift our vision from what's around us to what's above (Colossians 3:2).

Jesus knew Zacchaeus was waiting, looking, and longing to know him. When he passed by the sycamore tree, Jesus looked up and told Zacchaeus to hurry down because he must abide in his house today. One definition of the verb must is to be compelled. Zacchaeus' desire to know Jesus compelled Jesus to move into his heart and life. When we seek Christ, we find him (Luke 11:9-10). He dwells within us, and we are never the same.

Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully.  He found whom he was seeking, and his life was changed. He repented and made restoration (Luke 19:8). When we receive Christ, we are forgiven, and he comes to abide in and with us. We become new (II Corinthians 5:17) and know joy (Romans 14:17; 15:13). We change what we've been doing and want to live a life that honors God.

The religious leaders of the day rejected Jesus because he associated with sinners like Zacchaeus, but Jesus came for the lost. About Zacchaeus' conversion, Jesus proclaimed, "This day is salvation come to this house.... For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:9-10). Heaven celebrated (Luke 15:10)!

Eventually, we all find ourselves "up a tree" (Romans 3:23), but when we acknowledge we're lost, we will find Jesus waiting to abide with us (John 14:23). We will know we have found Whom we were seeking. 

Lord, you promise that when we seek you we will find you and that when we call for you, you will answer. Help us to look up to you. Thank you for being our Redeemer and for restoring us to your family. Amen.