Who We Really Are Determines What We Do

"In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him...Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man...he said "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."  Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

Luke, the physician, recorded this parable regarding the good Samaritan which Jesus spoke in response to a lawyer who was questioning Him.  The lawyer asked Jesus who was the neighbor that he should love as he loved himself.  After Jesus told him the parable about a man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the side of the road.  He told him that a priest walked past him and did nothing.  A Levite, a religious person who worked in the temple, also walked past him and did nothing.  A Samaritan, a non-religious person of a different culture, saw the man as he was walking by, had compassion for him, cleaned and bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and took care of him.  Then Jesus asked him which man of the three was a neighbor to the beaten man.  When the lawyer answered "The one who had compassion for him", Jesus told him to go and do likewise. 

The point is that our title, or position, or religious affiliations do not determine our behavior.  Our behavior is determined by the convictions within our heart.  "Who we really are inside determines what we see, and what we see determines what we do." (Unknown)  If we have the Christ-like compassion for others within us, then we will do what we can to help those who are in need.  If we don't have it within us, then we won't help others.  The lawyer asked Christ "who is my neighbor?"  The much more important question for us today is, "who are we?"   Who we are will determine what we will do.  If we love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will help those that we can.  Those who help the poor are lending to The Lord God, and He will repay the debt. (Proverbs 19:17)  He who blesses others shall himself be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25)  If we give, then it shall be given back unto us, and we will receive more than we gave. (Luke 6:38)  Let us share with those who are less fortunate and in need.  Remember the words of The Lord Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)