Luke 10:25-37 NKJV

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall 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.’ ” 28And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

36So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

We are proved to be true followers of Jesus Christ not just by the words that we speak, but by what we do, by how we live in practice, and by how we treat other people, especially those who are different from us. If we can speak it, but we don’t live it, our faith is worthless. And if we only show love and kindness and compassion to others who are like us, while we ignore the needs of others who are not like us, then that is not love. That is prejudice. And none of us are to be prejudice against others who are not like us.

But should we be sensible people who use caution and discernment? Absolutely! For there are many con artists out there who prey upon the kind and the loving people of our generation who are vulnerable to being taken advantage of. And sadly, con artists are just about everywhere we look these days, for there is so much deception. And many kind and loving people are being taken for a ride. So we need to couple love and compassion with wisdom and discernment. We need to pray to our Lord for his direction.

But utilizing wisdom and discernment is never to be used as an excuse for ignoring legitimate needs in other humans when we are quite capable of helping them. We should always pray for wisdom to know the right steps to take and for counsel in knowing the best way to help. And sometimes the best way to help is not to give them money, which we suspect they are going to immediately spend on drugs and/or alcohol or for any kind of illegal activity. But the best way to help may be to offer them a meal, instead.

The man on the side of the road beaten, stripped of his clothing, and half dead is pretty obvious that he is in need. But sadly so, there are people who fake such things as this to call out to the vulnerable and to the kind and to the caring people of this world as a way to trap them, and perhaps to take advantage of them in more than one way. For we live in a day and time when we cannot trust that everyone is who they say they are, doing what they say they are doing, and in need in the way that they proclaim.

In other words, scam artists are all over the place, on the street corners, in the marketplaces, in malls, in parking lots, in grocery stores, on the internet, on television, on the radio, in advertisements, in text messages, in phone calls, in emails, and in the gatherings of the church. Some of them are pastors of church congregations who take advantage of the people for their own advantage. And some of them are our government heads who fake loyalty to their devoted followers but who are robbing them blind, instead.

And I am not a cynical person or an untrusting person, generally speaking. I have a heart for the hurting. But I am of great compassion for the hurting and the vulnerable and for those who are being taken advantage of by scam artists. My heart goes out to the hurting. And I am a generous and giving person who has been taken advantage of many times by the crooks of this world. And because I love, and because I care, and because I don’t want people to be hurt and to be taken advantage of I speak the truth to people.

So, yes, don’t be selfish. Don’t be snobby. Do not ignore legitimate needs in others who you know are hurting and who are truly in need of help. But be wise and discerning, for you might not only do damage to your own life, but you may, by helping some people, help them to their own demise or to the demise of others who they intend to hurt, to abuse, and to take advantage of via your generosity. So always pray for discernment to do the right thing. Get your wisdom from God, but never stop caring for and helping others.

In Harmony

Based off Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 3:8-17
An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Go and Do Likewise
An Original Work / May 12, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love