“In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[c] 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.’ ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’“ ( Luke 10:30-36 NIV)
If you are like me, when you go to the store your goal is to get in, get what you came to get, and get out. Afterall, we have other things to so. What I am going to share with you today actually happened Monday, and you probably can add this to the meditations filed under “At the Store.”
I had done what I call “quick shopping,” strategically and speedily making it through the store to get all the items on my list. Cart filled, I got into the shortest checkout line. Only three shoppers were ahead of me. Two of them, an elderly couple older than me, or should I say barely older than me, maybe, were doing their first of the month shopping. Between them and that charming, cooperative couple was a man clothed in his local sports team regalia, from head to toe. This included his hat, his coat, and his shoes. He was a rather large man and big enough to play the tackle position on the pro sports team his attire matched his apparent interest in the team. I was waiting patiently when all of a sudden, the man fell backward, and he laid their sprawled on the store floor. He did not yell and there was no thud sound when he hit the ground. Makes me wonder if a tree makes a sound when it falls in the forest, and no one is around. His glasses flew past me and like the ultimate gymnastic star, they made a perfect landing and there was no breakage, no damage. Silently the man laid on the floor, not even making a moan or a slight grown.
I picked up his glasses and wondered if I should try to help him back up or not. I could have called for some store help, justifying my action as not wanting to be liable for magnifying his hurt. And on top of that I could have moved to the next line where now there was no waiting. However, the thought came to my mind, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” My self-serving goal, the desire to just get my groceries, pay for them, and return home expeditiously had to be put aside. Saving puts a pause on self-serving.
The man was easily at least eighty pounds heavier than me. However, I did not think about the size of the task as much as saving this man from lying flat on the floor. I’m not a Spring chicken myself, but I told him to hold one of my hands while I put my arm under the stranger’s other arm to lift him. It was a struggle, but the saving came first. It was a serious risk to my own body, but the saving came first. To paint a picture, let me say that It was simply like Popeye, before eating his spinach, lifting Brutus, a sure challenge, but I had to accept the task. Why? Because saving came first. Saving puts a pause on self-serving.
What if we would take this happening to a higher level? What if we put a pause on self-serving more and focused more on saving others who were facing the hurt of eternal damnation. That’s a real hurt and it last for a really long time, let’s say forever. One of my readers had responded earlier to a recent evangelical, outreach focus meditation and said, and I quote, “I was taking to a friend and thinking why major evangelism or Christ outreach doesn’t take place in December. We could really capitalize on unwrapping the true gift, new birth opportunities, de-commercialize/consumerize, and be wise in winning souls during this holiday season.”
The reader’s words align with the challenge to put saving before self-serving. The timing was not coincidental. I see God coupling, pairing my experience with the reader’s expression.
Meditate on these words and then, as always, move to save somebody when the situation arises and forget self for the salvation of another. Saving puts a pause on self-serving. Have a great Thursday! And yes, the closing verse is the same one used earlier this week. We need the reminder often. Be blessed!
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King