ABC's of Leadership: Benevolance

Luke 10:25-37

Welcome:

Booker T. Washington was born a slave, worked his way through college as a janitor, and founded Tuskegee Institute in Montgomery, AL. In his book, Up From Slavery, Washington keenly noted, “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

I too, have noticed in my lifetime that those who do for others seem to have more joy than those who come off as selfish and narcissistic.

You may have noticed in elementary school how the so-called teacher’s pet seems to always have a pep in her step.

Go to a high school football game and watch the water boy in action. If he’s a good one, you might question why he’s not suited up to run back kick returns.

The maid of honor, is rightly named as she tends to serve from a place of love. This love for her friend tends to drive the elite bride’s maid to work harder than all the rest as she proves her love by meeting needs.

Consider the mother who seems to rarely sleeps as she raises her children, the father who works multiple jobs to pay his child’s college tuition.

Years of labor should put wrinkles on their faces and exhaustion in their eyes but when that child walks across that stage in exchange for his diploma, as the young lady accepts the ring placed on her finger, and at the end of the fourth quarter, those who served are as excited, if not more, for the accomplishments of the one who received the service.

When the team won, so did the water boy. When the marriage ceremony and reception goes perfectly, does the maid of honor not get a feeling of accomplishment?

Indeed, those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others. They are the ones who meet needs. They meet needs from a place of love. Love is therefore, a choice that is made evident by action.

Love can be known to a child by his parent who cares for him. It can be known between a young couple who plan to spend their entire lives together. And love can be expressed even between two perfect strangers because love is a choice!

Jesus gives us a perfect example of love in

Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25–37 NIV

25 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?” 30 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. 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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii 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.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This text reveals six people we should pay attention to in hopes to learn a valuable life lesson.

An unknown man (Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor?)

Unknown robbers (Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor?)

A priest (Jew, 30+, not poor)

A Levite (Jew, 30+, not poor)

A Samaritan (Gentile, young or old, rich or poor?) on a $45k annual salary, that puts one denarii at $173. The samaritan gave the innkeeper 2 denarii $346 after one night with a promise to give him more when he got back.

The innkeeper - We don’t know if he knows the Samaritan or not. He doesn’t know how long the Samaritan will be gone. There is no guarantee he’s actually coming back. Who knows how long it will take for this guy to recover and