My parents called me yesterday with some horrifying news. My second cousin and her husband had been murdered and their bodies dismembered in their home. Their gruesome deaths were particularly horrific because they had been killed by their adopted son. The son obviously suffered from deep psychological trauma, but it is still unfathomable how a child who was loved dearly could murder the ones who had reached out and loved him.
Their sacrifice was rewarded with death.
Their tragic end reminds me of Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan and the risk he took to help an injured man. The road from the mountains of Jerusalem to the valley of Jericho was 17 miles of winding, desolate dust.
There was no other road, and I understand why the priest and Levite passed by on the other side of the victim (Luke 10:30-32). The beaten body by the side of the road meant that robbers were nearby, and it seemed like a bright idea to get out of there.
The Samaritan—with little thought for his own safety— knelt in plain view beside the victim (Luke 10:34). What if the “bandits” were hiding behind rocks, waiting to beat and rob him? Jewish thieves might respect a priest or Levite, but they would have no problem killing a despised Samaritan. The Samaritan chose to risk his life out of love and compassion (Luke 10:33-34).
We must be careful how we apply this story (for example, a single woman should think twice before stopping to assist a stranded man). And yet, like the priest and Levite, it seems that we can always find good reasons not to help. Love is supposed to be dangerous, for when we open ourselves to others we inevitably become vulnerable to being hurt. Sometimes it ends badly, but it is always worth the risk.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 23:23–24:27
More:
Read 2 Corinthians 7:2- 16, 11:1-15, 12:11-21 to see what Paul risked to love the Christians in Corinth.
Next:
When has someone taken a risk by loving and caring for you? What risk do you need to take to love a friend or another person who is struggling?
bluefigtoast on November 13, 2011 at 12:39 am
This message is especially poignant for me. After my divorce, I still have never learned to risk.
AManofGod on November 13, 2011 at 2:10 am
Such a timely post!
I recently completed a Masters degree in Environmental Management. One of the biggest components of the program is risk management and risk assessment. We were taught how to properly assess risk and to make a determination on the feasibility of pursuing a course of action based on the risk and subsequent outcomes. There are various outcomes for any risk we might consider undertaking (say the economic risk or choosing to buy a certain car or the environmental risk of choosing to open a nuclear plant etc) and we need to properly weigh all the risks in light of the facts BUT we must allow Christ to have the deciding input! Just think if the Samaritan had used the things I learned in my program….he would surely have not rendered aid. In my life I have often helped when I knew my help could (and often did) cost me something. Sometimes it costs me greatly.
And I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I assess my risks with a different slant than my instructors…..and it affects all aspects of my life.
AManofGod
mike wittmer on November 13, 2011 at 12:08 pm
bluefigtoast:
This is normal and even right. You do need time to learn how to trust again, so please be patient with yourself. Have trust as your goal–and start with God–but know that trust has to be earned, and so you are going to be more careful with it for the forseeable future.
AManofGod:
That is a helpful observation. I’m glad that God didn’t perform a risk assessment on me! His life was certainly not a fair trade for mine.
bearpair on November 13, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Mike, thank you for this sensitive & insight-full devotional on what must have been a traumatic time for you. You are right–loving frequently requires risk, danger, and even loss, yet our dear Lord set high standards in this realm. T & P