Take the Good Samaritan Test

Are you a good Samaritan at home? Do you know what that would look like? Read the story again in Luke 10: 25-37 and take the Love at Home test.

Bottom line, Jesus spells out what it means to love your neighbor as yourself by sharing that the one who reaches out to those in need is the good neighbor. Now, let’s bring home the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Loving ourselves: When we make a bad choice, we find ways to defend ourselves or justify our actions.

The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor as himself by extending kindness in spite of the fact that he possibly made a bad choice to travel alone in a dangerous place.

Love at home test: Have you ever neglected to respond to a need of your child or spouse because, “they made their bed, they can lay in it!” Do you withhold the love your husband needs because he hasn’t “earned” it? Do you belittle your wife for making the same mistakes again and again? Do your kids lie because they live in fear of your response to their infraction of the rules? Granted, there are times when “tough love” is needed to demonstrate the consequences for our kids behavior, but it shouldn’t be dished out with rage. They must see you have love and grace for them when they have made a bad choice. Beyond that, they need to see that grace extended to others, like your in-laws, the crazy driver who cut you off, the neighbor with the barking dog, the boss who doesn’t listen, etc.

Loving ourselves: When we have been injured, we do what it takes to restore our body to health.

The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor as himself because he sought out medical help and paid the bill for the injured man.

Love at home test:  When your spouse is under the weather, do you go out of your way to help with their responsibilities around the house? When they are ill, are you kind and patient? Do you spend money on your family’s needs without unbegrudgingly? Do you leave margin in your budget to demonstrate compassion for your kids by helping provide for those who cannot help themselves?

Loving ourselves: We would break away from tradition if we had a perceived need to be met that required us to do so.

The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor as himself because he ignored the traditional law of not touching blood, but bandaged up the wounds of the injured man.

Love test at home: Are you stuck in the method your parents used to parent you rather than really taking a look at what your kids need to learn and grow?  Do you treat your spouse as you witnessed in your home growing up or have you determined to extend mercy and grace, because that is what love looks like?

So, if you want to teach your children to follow the most important law of loving God and others, you better take a peek inside your home and make sure you find yourself showing mercy to their dad, their mom, to the neighbors, the in-laws, the strangers along the way and to those precious children God has entrusted to your care.