Reasons to Help Others

Reasons to Help Others
Luke 10:25-37

This is a summary of the Scripture reading:
A man came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “Love God and your neighbor.”
The man asked, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus answered by telling him the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jesus then asked him, “Who was a neighbor to this man?”
The man answered, “The one who helped him.”
Jesus then said, “Go, and do the same.”

I have made a list of reasons why we should not help other people.
1.You can’t do what you want to do. There may not be enough time to do other things that you want to do. There may not be time to play on the computer, go to the movies, relax, or do a number of other things that you would like to do.
2.You may lose your freedom. It may mean that you are focused on the needs of others, rather than your own needs and wants.
3.You might get tired of helping. It takes time and energy, and sometimes money to help other people.
4.People may take advantage of you. Some people may complain that you are not helping them enough, or that you aren’t helping the right way.
5.You may not get anything in return. People may not even say “Thank you.” And they may not do anything to help you.

I have also made a list of reasons why we should help other people.
1.You will probably feel good because you did the right thing. There is satisfaction and peace in knowing that you have done something worthwhile. When we give we also receive.
2.There is joy in helping others. It may be an opportunity to meet and make new friends. It may be a chance to learn something, or to have a new experience.
3.Helping can express our compassion for others. It is a way to say that we care.
4.Helping can increase our compassion for others. It can stretch our “caring muscles”, and make us more understanding and compassionate.
5.Helping builds our character. We are better people when we act in caring ways.
6.Others benefit from our help. Other people feel loved and supported. Joy and compassion is passed on when we help other people.
7.Jesus told his followers to help others. He said that the two great commands are to love God and love your neighbor. He said that the Good Samaritan was a neighbor to the one that he helped on the road. And Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

I don’t know about you, but I think the reasons that we should help others far outweigh and outnumber the reasons that we shouldn’t help others. We can all be looking for opportunities to be servants.