A matter that has been on my heart for some time, since my earliest of days in the formation of the ministry, is how the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' is supposed to work into our lives. I'm sure most of you that are reading this are familiar with this parable, so I'll not go deeply into it, but just brush upon the surface of how it pertains to our daily walk with the LORD!
Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
27 He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
30 In reply Jesus said: “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. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 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. 35 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.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Many today are like the religious ones that happened upon this poor man who had been beaten to within inches of his life. They walk around in 'religious garb' shunning anything that doesn't have the remotest resemblance to their 'calling'(position before men or within their religious group) in life. Many large ministries, when asked by the small 'startups' for assistance, will offer up their prayers, but nothing else. Many will spout off with the comment that 'we've not the funding at this time to undertake such a matter.' While others, won't even humble themselves to the point of giving a simple reply. How do I know this to be true? Simple. I've asked the large mega ministries for assistance. To be a fact, I've asked almost every ministry, denomination and church that I'd been in contact with in the early years. Not just for their funding, but any help they could give me in how to start even the most basic parts of the ministry. To date there has been only two that have given anything, besides their prayers. One sent me over $300 worth of tapes and books and the other a simple 'packet' of tracts that they used and the paperwork to order more from. I sent them, actually all of them, letters of thanks and appreciation for all that they could offer. I saved the books and tapes and filed the 'packet.' Now don't take me wrong, I value people's prayers highly. But when you ask people for help and they've the means to assist and all they offer is prayers or excuses, this places them in the realm of being a sinner.
We as Christians are supposed to go beyond that which we're asked to. Even if it is but hinted at or alluded to, such as one stating their conditions in life but not openly asking for help. The way laid stranger didn't yell out and ask for the Samaritan's help. No, he freely gave all that he had, even going beyond this and telling the inkeeper he'd cover all the expense beyond what he'd paid. These kind of actions shouldn't be the acceptations of our walk, but those that are the normal acts we live by. Too many today are afraid to step out beyond what they 'know' and step into the unknown of fully trusting GOD. They're pass up a stranded motorist on the side of the road, or the hitchhiker tooling along the roadways of life. To pass by these very people, we're missing out on such and abundant life. Yes folks, to give beyond measure, that which can be considered as your all, is the pathway to a most abundant life. GOD places people such as these within our pathways, so we can bless them as we've been blessed. In doing so, we empty our pockets of that which we have, only so the LORD can refill them with newer and greater blessings!
So I ask you at this time. Will you seek to be a blessing to others, by giving beyond measure, or will you continue to hold on to your blessings, because they're yours???
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
