|
There are many ways we can approach personal work and evangelism.
One way to think about personal work is from the perspective
of being a good neighbor.
Live by the Golden Rule
If you live by the Golden Rule, to love your neighbor as
yourself, you'll be a successful personal worker.
A lawyer wanted to justify himself and asked Jesus, "Who
is my neighbor?" Jesus answers him by telling the parable
of the good Samaritan, a story about three men who came
upon a man who was beaten and robbed. The priest and Levite
passed by the man, but a Samaritan stopped and helped, doctoring
the injured man's wounds and paying his medical expenses.
Jesus asked, which of the three men proved to be a neighbor
to the man. The lawyer correctly replied, "The one who showed
mercy toward him" (Lk. 10:37).
Feel Compassion / Show Mercy
In the parable of the good Samaritan, we notice two necessary
components for being a good neighbor, compassion and mercy.
A compassionate person has a sympathetic consciousness
of others' distress, together with a desire to alleviate
it (Webster). Compassion is an attitude (feeling), whereby
we are moved to extend mercy to others. This is an attitude
we must develop as Christians, as we grow in the grace and
knowledge of God (Col. 3:12).
A merciful person provides the needs people can't provide
for themselves. Because of a compassionate attitude (feeling),
we see a person who needs help and provide the things that
are lacking in their life, as we have opportunity (Gal.
6:10).
Jesus teaches us to be merciful.
- "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy"
(Matt. 5:7).
- "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Lk.
6:36).
Compassionate & Merciful Personal Workers
Before Sodom's destruction with fire and brimstone, God
saved Lot and his family because "the compassion of the
Lord was upon him" (Gen. 19:16). Like God's compassion for
Lot, we too must have compassion for others whereby we extend
mercy to them.
We contact people daily who need help. Some people are
lost in sin, some are sick, some are lonely, some need a
friend, etc. All of them need a compassionate neighbor to
show mercy and extend a helping hand.
Will you be their neighbor, and thereby be a good personal
worker for the Lord?
|
