THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS
LUKE 10:30-35
I. INTRODUCTION
MISSIONS, MUST BE CONSIDERED FIRST AND FOREMOST, A MINISTRY. AS A MINISTRY, IT MUST STRIVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, RATHER THAN BENEFITING OURSELVES. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MISSIONS IS FOUND IN MATT. 5:16, WHICH TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO LET OUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE OUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY GOD WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. IF OUR AIM IS TO BE SEEN, OR TO PLEASE MEN, THEN ALL WE ARE DOING IS GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. GOD IS NOT PLEASED WHEN WE JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. THEREFORE, I AM COMPELLED TO ASK THIS QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE A MINISTRY OF MISSIONS OR A MISERY OF MISSIONS?
II. TEXT
THE PREIST AND THE LEVITE DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED. THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF CHURCH FOLK WHO DO NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED. THEY SAW THE MAN IN NEED, BUT FAILED TO MEET THE NEED. NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE ON THEIR PART TO COMFORT THEIR OWN COUNTRYMAN. HE HAD BEEN BEATEN, ROBBED, AND STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHING. THERE ARE MANY IN OUR SOCIETY THAT HAVE TAKEN A BEATING FROM LIFE, ROBBED OF THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, AND STRIPPED OF HOPE AND DIGNITY.
MISSIONS SEE THE NEED, THEN FINDS A WAY TO MEET THE NEED. THE SAMARITAN, WHO BY ALL ACCOUNTS IS THE SWORN ENEMY OF THE JEWS; GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO HELP SOMEONE WHO DID NOT LOOK LIKE HIM, BELONG TO THE SAME SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF THE JEWS TO LOVE AND HELP ONLY THOSE OF THEIR RACE. THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IN JOHN 4:9 SAYS TO JESUS, THE JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH THE SAMARITANS.
THE SAMARITAN OF THIS NARRATIVE HAD A COMPASSIONATE HEART, A HELPING HAND, AND AN UNLIMITED CONCERN. HE GAVE UP PERSONAL COMFORT, PHYSICAL ENERGY, AND VALUABLE TIME. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MISSIONS OUGHT TO COST US SOMETHING! MISSIONS REQUIRES A COMMITMENT TO HUMANITY.
THE ROBBERS BEAT HIM UP, THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE PASSED HIM UP, AND THE SAMARITAN PICKED HIM UP. THE THIEF SAID, “WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE, I’LL TAKE IT.” THE PRIEST AND LEVITE REASONED, “WHAT’S MINE IS MINE, I’LL KEEP IT.” BUT THE SAMARITAN SAID, “WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS, WE’LL SHARE IT.”
III. CONCLUSION
THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS SEEKS TO DO A MULTITUDE OF THINGS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE THREE ESSENTIAL POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. ONE, MISSIONS MUST BE MOTIVATED BY MERCY AND COMPASSION. MATT. 9:27 TEACHES, “AND WHEN JESUS DEPARTED THENCE, TWO BLIND MEN FOLLOWED HIM, CRYING, AND SAYING, THOU SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON US.” MATT. 14:14 REVEALS, “AND JESUS WENT FORTH, AND SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE, AND WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TOWARD THEM, AND HE HEALED THEIR SICK.” TWO, THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS DOES NOT SEEK COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED. MATT. 10:8 TEACHES, “FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.” THREE, THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS GOES TO PLACES THAT NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT OR SAFE (THE ROAD, JOSEPHUS). LUKE 10:3 TEACHES, “BEHOLD, I SEND YOU FORTH AS LAMBS AMONG WOLVES.”
