August 31
Scripture focus: "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'" Luke 10:33-35 (The Message)
Notice how beautifully the good Samaritan practiced healthy boundaries.
He followed Jesus' command to love and was responsible to rescue a man in need. But he did this without violating his healthy boundaries. He helped with the "burden" – that which the man was incapable of doing. He got him first aid and cleaned his wounds. He carried him and found him a comfortable spot for healing, and paid for enough care to get the man back on his feet.
But then he continued on, taking responsibility for himself. Presumably he carried on with his traveling. He didn't tarry in needless and over-responsible caretaking. He sacrificed by giving and caring, but he wasn't foolish.
The next morning, he picked up his "load" – those daily things that he was personally responsible for caring for – and off he went.
We often confuse our "to's" and "for's" but in the weeks ahead, we're going to have an opportunity to sharpen our serve by learning how to appropriately give and receive.
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!" Matthew 9:35-38 (The Message)
Recommended reading: 1 Chronicles 22-24
1 comment:
My friends and I were just talking about what constitutes helping someone in need and what is codependent behavior. This post and our current study seem to answer the question. If someone has a need and it is within me to help, then I am responsible to that person to offer help or help out. I do not think I could see someone hungry and not feed them when they had no food, even if the person did not ask. I think people like that are called good Samaritans. They do their part and keep going to do for themselves. They don’t enmesh themselves in the person’s life but do their good deed for the day.
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