Celebration of Life Larry and Sue

5 Love Lessons for Life in what I knew of Sue from Parable of the Good Samaritan

Sure, here are five love lessons from the Parable of the Good Samaritan that can be applied to everyday life:

Sacrifice for love: Love often requires sacrifice. Just as Sue's care for Larry cost her certain freedoms, we may also have to make sacrifices for the ones we love. Love will call for sacrifice, and it is important to remember this when facing difficult times.

Take action: The Good Samaritan didn't just offer kind words or sympathies, he took action and helped the injured man. We are called to take action and help those in need, not just offer empty promises or platitudes.

See people as individuals: The Good Samaritan didn't judge the injured man by his ethnicity or religion. He saw him as an individual in need of help. We should strive to do the same and see people as individuals, not just stereotypes or labels.

Be a Good Samaritan: We should strive to be Good Samaritans in our everyday lives, helping those in need and going out of our way to do good deeds. The world needs more kindness, compassion, and love, and we can all do our part to make a difference.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan summary: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (also listed below), is in the Gospel of Luke 10:25-37 NIV. When Jesus explained that the way to eternal life is to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves, he was questioned about the definition of ‘neighbor’. He used the parable to explain what being a neighbor entails. At the time, the Samaritans and Jewish people didn’t associate with one another. In the parable, a Jewish man was stripped, beaten, robbed, and left half-dead lying in the street. He was ignored by a passing priest and Levite, both of whom should have been his friends. The least likely person to help him was the Samaritan, but he was the only one who stopped, thus being a true neighbor.

Now Larry and Sue were married so while we can find a reason for her service, we need to remember service comes at a cost. Just as Larry’s illness cost him mobility and certain joys of life, Sue’s care for Larry cost her certain freedoms. In other words, Love will call for SACRIFICE. In a world that says follow your feelings, but without the Christian gospel and church that often becomes a rationalization for selfishness and avoiding the difficulties of life.

Just like Larry, Sue and the Good Samaritan, we will all face some debilitating event in life. It may take the form of a major sickness, loss of a loved one, job loss, addiction, rejection from a loved one, an unplanned move, perhaps a rebellious child. And if you haven’t faced that personally or seen a close loved one struggle that way, count your blessings. But it is highly likely that you will face that prospect several times during your life.

It’s in those moments that you will see what truly matters. The current climate of take the easy way out, entitlement, do only what feels good gives a hollow answer for those who ask the corridors of time. The Idiom Good Samaritan The widely-recognized idiom ‘Good Samaritan’ originated from this parable. A Good Samaritan represents a person who does a good deed for someone in need, particularly when they haven’t been asked for help and there’s no reward for doing so.

In Larry and Sue’s case, there would be no hope for recovery. Now physical therapy that would make travel possible. Nothing that would relieve the permanent pain or cure the body from age. Sue made a choice to stop a number of things to offer care to her husband Larry with no hope for earthly reward of a “better” life.

Luke 10:25–37 CSB

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

What is the moral lesson of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? The Parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us several lessons, but the heart of the message is to love one another even if… You’ll see that this message is inherent in all five lessons discussed below. How does the Good Samaritan relate to life today as we contemplate and celebrate Larry and Sue? They’re no longer with us. What can they teach us. This book, the New Testament is literally 2,000 years old, what could it possibly have to say to us with all our technological advances?

Well, first, I point out, for all our so called advances, we still face death. For all the hubris and pride we claim as we look back at the Bible and historical figures with cynicism we still have not overcome racism, hatred, selfishness, divorce, family discord, or war.

Conflict, mistrust, and hate still exist today between groups of people. We still see prejudices and segregated neighborhoods. People still disassociate with others based on all sorts of self-righteous criteria.

The message of the Parable of the Good Samaritan is as relevant today as it was more than two thousand years ago. We are called to help those in need, EVEN IF. We are called to help even if the person is Jewish and we’re Samaritan. We’re called to help even if the person doesn’t look like us, speak our language, or believe in our God. We’re called to help even if the person has snubbed us or hurt us. We are called to help those in need. We are called to help the sick, EVEN IF THEY WILL NEVER return to full health. Period. This challenge was no easier for those who heard Jesus speak the words than it is for us today. If it seems to be an impossible task, remember that with God all things are possible! The Good Samaritan Message While the overarching message of the Good Samaritan is to Love One Another Even If, there are several specific messages that apply to everyday life. Following are five takeaways to encourage your Christian journey. 1. Love your neighbor as yourself: The heart of the Good Samaritan message is to love one another, even if they are strangers or enemies. We are called to help those in need, regardless of their race, religion, background, or difficulty.

? Love Your Neighbor as Yourself Means Love ‘Everyone’ especially when it’s not easy. Being bed ridden and lacking mobility can feel like being dead. Caring for someone who can’t move can be draining. When you feel cranky, tired, emotionally drained, it’s easy to avoid responsibility. You can even see your spouse as an enemy. But Christ tells us, your spouse is not your enemy and you are called to care for even those who might consider you an enemy.?

The Samaritan and the fallen man were enemies by the world’s standard, but Jesus doesn’t ask anything of us that’s based on a worldly standard. He doesn’t care if we’ve allowed hate in our hearts. He made it very clear, we’re to love one another: John 13:34-35 NIV A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. He actually said we MUST love one another. By stopping to help the hurt man, the Samaritan showed the kind of love we are all called to show. When we reach out in love and kindness toward those the world tells us to hate, we show our love for Jesus. When Sue chose to care for Larry, she had to say no to things she would have preferred to do. She couldn’t go visit at the drop of a hat. She couldn’t go on a vacation. She had to be around at certain times to offer care. She had to get up when he needed her and she would have preferred to sleep a little longer.

So why do it, why not put Larry in a nursing home and just visit when convenient? 2. Sacrifice for love: Love often requires sacrifice. Just as Sue's care for Larry cost her certain freedoms, we may also have to make sacrifices for the ones we love. Love will call for sacrifice, and it is important to remember this when facing difficult times. Matthew 25:34-40 NIV 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 3. Take action: The Good Samaritan didn't just offer kind words or sympathies, he took action and helped the injured man. We are called to take action and help those in need, not just offer empty promises or platitudes. Romans 12:10 NIV Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

The Samaritan likely had things to do and places to be. Sue did as well. He had a life and obligations. She had other ideas about life. The Samaritan may have been inconvenienced to help the hurt man, but he wasn’t deterred. He put his life aside for the moment and did what was required to make sure the man got the help he needed.

Actions speak louder than any label, so don’t judge a person by their title or appearance. People are not always who they appear to be. Matthew 7:15 NIV Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Besides that, you know there’s a poem When God calls, do we listen? When he puts a circumstance in our path, do we walk around it, as the priest and Levite did, or take it on, as the Samaritan did? Do we let our obligations and worldly wishes get in the way of loving our neighbors as Jesus asked of us? A good intention that is never acted upon is worth nothing in God’s Kingdom. What matters to Jesus is the action we take in the form of the help and support we give to those in need.

4. See the Beginning, Middle, and End of Life and ask yourself, what do you want to be known as?

The Dash Poem by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears. But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.

Be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

I recently heard an additional thought to the dash.

At a funeral, who do you want to be? The person who people avoid? The person who just falls apart and becomes a big pile of Jello? Or do you want to be the Good Samaritan who can carry a load and give in the time of need?

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

You build your life on the Eternal God, His Word, and His gift of Eternal Life, you won’t be exempt from life’s troubles, but you will be able to stand when the floor gets ripped out from under you.

But that starts when you understand you are as good as dead, like the Samaritan. You can’t get to heaven on your own. You need to trust the truly Great Samaritan, Jesus Christ to carry you home. He carried that cross on His shoulders to die in your place. He gave Himself in the place of you to die a criminals death so you could be free from death and receive eternal life. But that comes by surrendering your selfish ambition and pride to Christ. That comes by putting your trust in Christ to pick you up and carry you to heaven whether He returns and calls you in the Rapture or He sends His angels to collect your soul at death.

Be careful of holding on to the things of this world so much that you lose the opportunity to put your hand in the hand of Christ. Too many people say, I’ll start loving God when I get my life together, after I sow my wild oats, after I tried all the things that I know would not make God happy. And instead of building a solid foundation, they have a life of hay and stubble, then the rain, the storm and the fire come and it’s too late to turn to Christ. Your heart has been hardened by selfishness rather than softened the humility of trusting Christ alone.

5. Don’t search for a reward. The World can be a beautiful place. I can also be a terrible place. Change your definition of success and then act. The world needs more kindness, compassion, and love, and we can all do our part to make a difference.

There was no obvious benefit for the Samaritan to help the fallen man. Our human nature makes us more willing to be inconvenienced or help someone when there’s a reward at stake. Maybe the reward is impressing someone or bringing attention to ourselves. Maybe we think our good deed could bring a financial reward. Sue didn’t think she’d have a better life or more money by caring for Larry. The Good Samaritan didn’t look at helping as a money making social media scheme. Jesus didn’t become a greater God by dying for you and rising. But, Sue and the Samaritan were better people for it. They came to reflect the Lord Who made them in His image. The more we act like Jesus, the more we come to our senses and the more enriched our lives become.

Jesus came to give His life. He also taught it is better to give than to receive. Why because life really comes down to relationships and connecting with God and others. Deep down, everyone knows this. But, there’s a campaign by the Devil and the culture, the Big Lie that says, if we live for ourselves, we will find happiness. But that happiness is fleeting, like a butterfly. Once you catch it, it flitters away and you “need” something else to be happy. But the joy of the Lord is in the act of loving. And you can never love or be loved too much in Christ. When you give yourself, you begin to find yourself in Christ and the real you. The best reward that comes from helping someone when there’s nothing in it for you is knowing that your actions are pleasing to God by caring for His people.

Jeremiah 17:10 NIV I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.

Christ’s example speaks across centuries because deep down, we know He is the true example of abundant life. He is truly where life is. But we have to make the choice to Love Him and His ways to find the peace and hope we need. And when you allow Him to care for you and nurse you in times of need, you find He gives you strength to care for others and comfort in your time of need.

The Lord be with you.