When You See a Need, Act Now
By Rick Warren
“Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’shand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor, ‘Maybe some other time’ or ‘Try me tomorrow’ when the money’s right there in your pocket” (Proverbs 3:27-28 MSG).
The last few days we’ve been looking at what the Parable of the Good Samaritan can teach us about demonstrating mercy to those who are hurting. We’ve seen that we must see the needs around us and sympathize with people’s pain.
The Good Samaritan also teaches us we must seize the moment.
Don’t wait, don’t delay, and don’t procrastinate. Do what you can at that moment. Love is not so much something you feel as it is something you do. The Samaritan took action. He stooped down and got on the injured man’s level. He didn’t act superior. He used what he had: wine to disinfect and oil to soothe the wounds. It was the best medication of the day. The Samaritan probably used his own clothes to bandage this guy’s wounds. After all, he’s not a doctor. He didn’t have a medicine cabinet with him. He just served. He did the best he could with what he had.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:27-28, “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’shand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor, ‘Maybe some other time’ or ‘Try me tomorrow’ when the money’s right there in your pocket” (MSG). Don’t wait for better conditions. When God calls you to minister to somebody, do it now. When you see a need, meet it now.
To seize the moment, you must be willing to take a risk, though. You must be willing to be interrupted. To be a servant you must move against your fears. Imagine the fears the Samaritan may have faced: “What if the robbers are still in the area? What if this is all a trap? What if he rejects my help? What if I can’t really help him?” We often don’t want to get involved with other people’s pain and brokenness because, quite frankly, it reminds us of our own. But mercy moves in spite of fear.
Mercy touches the untouchable and loves the unlovable.
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Talk It Over
- Why do we sometimes delay helping other people who are in need?
- What is the risk involved in helping another person?
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This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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