As people journey through life on earth, they adopt certain basic theories as to how they will conduct themselves in relationship with their fellow human kind. In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus responded to a questioner by telling a parable that illustrated three different philosophies of life.
The parable opens with the introduction of a man who was travelling a distance of 25 kilometres, 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. The violent actions of these robbers might be summed up by these words, "What is yours is really mine, so I will take it!"
Then as we continue to read the parable, it states that a Jewish priest happened to be going down that same road. Upon seeing the man, he passed by on the other side. Then a fellow countryman, identified as a Jewish Levite, came to the place and saw the man, and then he, too, passed by on the other side. The failure of these men to assist the dying man was an expression of their mutual philosophy of life depicted in these words, "What is mine is mine, so I will keep it!"
Then a Samaritan came in his journey upon this destitute man, and he went to him, bandaged his wounds, pouring in oil and wine as he attempted to heal and cleanse his death-dealing wounds. The Samaritan transported the wounded man to an inn, and paid the innkeeper to take care of him. The Samaritan was motivated to provide assistance because he believed that "What is mine, is really God's, so I will share it!"
If you have journeyed very far down the road of life, you have probably encountered any one or all of these attitudes existent within the human family. The thieves were takers, the Jewish priest and the religious Levite were keepers, and the Samaritan was a giver.
Jesus concluded this parable with a question and a command given in Luke 10:36-37. Jesus asked this question: "Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Then Jesus gave this command, "Go thou and do likewise."
In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul quoted Jesus by stating, "It is more blessed to give than to receive!"
Are you a taker, a keeper, or a giver?
