GO, AND DO THOU LIKEWISE

Paul the apostle gives the Galatian believers insight into the ‘law of Christ’ when he states, ‘by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’, Gal. 5. 13-14.

The Lord Jesus answers a challenge by a certain lawyer as to who is his neighbour, using a very interesting and enlightening story. The law was interpreted that loving a neighbour was to not bring him any harm. He was not to kill him, or steal from him, or commit adultery with his wife, or speak falsely about him or even to covet that which is his. The lawyer was confident that he had fulfilled these requirements and should have earned eternal life.

But the Lord raised the bar of the law to what was in the heart and not just the actions. The Lord pointed out that fulfilling the law was much more than not doing his neighbour harm. It involved reaching out and helping his neighbour, even if it meant setting aside his own predetermined course of life. The Lord showed that the Samaritan, rather than the Priest or Levite, was truly living the reality of the law.

The Samaritan went out of his way to help the down-trodden. He stopped, stooped down to pour in oil and wine from his own resources, found adequate help for him, and paid it out of his own pocket. The Lord demands mercy and not sacrifice. It is not in the keeping of rituals that the Lord is pleased but in reaching out to those in need. That fulfils the ‘law of Christ’, Gal. 6. 2.

The history of missions is replete with those who have reached out to the needy. Orphanages, hospitals, schools and other humanitarian aid have done much to open the door to the gospel message. But, while these are good, we need to remember that the greatest need in the world today is spiritual, a need that can only be met by the gospel. It is so easy to get caught up in humanitarian aid and forget that the real need is spiritual. Equally, it is possible to get caught up in our own rituals and walk right past opportunities to reach the lost with the gospel. May we learn to love our neighbour - reaching him for Christ.