How do we distribute our love? Jesus indicated we distribute the God-kind of love by giving away our greatest riches.
One of the greatest examples of this love is found in the story of the good Samaritan. When Jesus gave this example, He was responding to a question from
an insincere lawyer regarding what he must do to inherit eternal life. First Jesus asked the lawyer what he thought, and then confirmed his answer.
This is how the lawyer answered:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
(Luke 10:27 NKJV)
Jesus responded to this insincere lawyer by saying, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” (verse 28)
Here is a man who knew the right answer but was not living according to what he knew. Then Jesus told the story of a man who was a Samaritan — a
half-breed who was unacceptable to the people of Israel.
There was a man on the road to Jericho who had been beaten by thieves and left half dead. A priest and a Levite both came by but did nothing to help this
man. Then the Samaritan came and “had compassion” on him.
“So 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.
“On 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.”
“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.'”
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do like wise.'” (verses 34-37)
This man saw love in action. Love bandaged the man where he hurt and took him to a place of safety. Love cared for him, and paid to do it. Love acted without
needing to be repaid. Love will do more than seems reasonable and do it with joy.
The Samaritan knew that his money was not to be used only on himself, but also to help someone in need. Thank God the Samaritan was prosperous or we would
not have this story.
The God-kind of love is deposited in our hearts — our inner man. In Romans 5:5 it says:
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (NKJV)
We are to give from a heart of love because God gave, not because someone deserves it. The heart of love doesn’t look to do as little as possible, but
rather it goes as far as it can to express God’s great love.
