Fences, Neighbors, and Good Samaritans

The relationships we value create boundaries in our lives. A commitment to our spouse, our responsibilities to our children or parents, and the needs of friends all create certain limitations in our lives. These relational boundaries can be very difficult to identify and are frequently crossed. This creates relational conflict that impacts our lives in significant ways. Join us for part three of boundaries where we will look at four stories from the Bible the illustrate appropriate relational boundaries and the consequences of ignoring them.

Passage (Read it):

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"  And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"  He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)

Daily Reading:

Sunday: Psalm 16
Monday: Exodus 17
Tuesday: Exodus 18
Wednesday: Exodus 32
Thursday: Numbers 12
Friday: Luke 10
Saturday: Philippians 2