Extravagant
Living a Life of Dangerous Generosity
December 6, 2020
Luke 10:25-29 NIV
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 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.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus said all the law could be obeyed if we did two things – Love God & Love our Neighbor
Loving God seems easier than loving people, right?
If only people were that easy ?
V.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.'
1. He was moved by compassion.
v. 33b – “and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”
Compassion starts on the inside and is activated when we encounter something on the external.
A cynic is motivated wholly by self-interest.
2. He crossed dangerous boundaries.
• The hatred between the Samaritans and Jews was hundreds of years old. The tension still exists today.
• Few Jews would travel today directly from Jerusalem to Galilee because it would take them through the West Bank and possible violence.
3. He was willing to be inconvenienced.
v. 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.”
We must die to our schedule, our convenience and our worship of comfort if we are serious about following Jesus.
4. He had resources available to give.
v. 35a - The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.
Living below our means allows us to give when we see the need.
5. He continued to show up.
v. 35b - 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
