Luke 10:37

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY

‘Go, and do thou likewise.’

Luke 10:37

The parable of the Good Samaritan has been so frequently, so fully, so effectively dealt with that there is no need to dwell upon its details or to attempt once more to develop its spiritual teaching. It is my purpose to show in what ways we may obey the teaching which underlies the command of our Lord: ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’ To obey to the letter these words of the Lord might be to misread their meaning. The age in which we live, the land in which we live, the circumstances by which we are surrounded, differ as widely as possible from the age, the land, the circumstances of our Lord’s time. These things must be taken into account in trying to realise how we may do our Lord’s bidding.

I. In estimating our duty to our fellow-men, we must not take a narrow view of what that duty is.—When men read some sad story of distress they are always ready to throw the blame on some one else, the clergy by preference. Of course, the clergy have, within certain limits, a very clear duty to perform, even as regards the temporal needs of parishioners. They can hardly help getting to know where help is needed. But we know that they do not, as a rule, neglect this part of their duty. Very rightly they remember that a clergyman is not a relieving officer; that there is such a thing as the Poor Law; that in theory, at any rate, no one need starve in England. It is disastrous to spiritual influence if the clergy come to be looked upon as persons whose main duty is to relieve distress. But, whilst this is true, it is also true that they cannot neglect the bodily needs of their people without justly incurring blame. If, however, they are not to be absolutely overwhelmed by the mere serving of tables, aye, and to be crushed under a sense of the hopelessness of the task assigned them, their number in large parishes must be greatly increased, as also must the resources placed at their disposal; for both these matters there is opportunity to obey the Master’s command.

II. We are bound to remember that this command is to be obeyed in spirit rather than in letter.—What are the lessons for us now? Certainly not that we are to relieve every beggar we meet in the street, every person who comes to our door, every sturdy applicant for charity. Prevention is better than cure. Men are obeying the spirit of our Lord’s teaching when they strive to improve the condition of the people generally.

III. Christians are bound to obey the teaching of this parable because—

(a) By so doing they will commend spiritual religion to those who love it not.

(b) Christians will have many opportunities of pressing home spiritual truths which would never have been theirs had they neglected the temporal needs of their neighbours. Our Blessed Lord Himself won the hearts of the multitude by miracles of mercy. In such matters the Church as a whole, not the clergy alone, must take part. The religious layman who will take the time and trouble to share actively in improving the lot of his fellow-men is ever a power for good in spiritual things.

—Rev. Canon Scott.

Illustration

‘Lord Shaftesbury was obeying the spirit of this parable when he did his best to shorten hours of labour in Lancashire factories, and to prevent children under a certain age being employed in factory work. Mr. Plimsoll was obeying the spirit of this parable when he sought to render it impossible for ships to be sent to sea in an unfit condition, with unsuitable cargo, without a sufficient number of sailors. Mr. Raikes was obeying the spirit of this command when he instituted Sunday-schools. Mr. Cadbury was obeying the spirit of this command when he furnished what had been his own home as a holiday retreat and hospital for sick children. Every effort honestly put forth to make the world a happier and a better place, whether it be by distinctly evangelistic plans or by those which have as their first aim the improvement of the material condition of the people, is obedience to this command. But let us remember that such effort cannot be done by proxy. There must be personal work. It is quite true that those who are willing to give their money may do much; but all experience shows that the personal interest of a great many people is absolutely needful if large results are to be attained.’