OA Fakinlede
Oda, September 8, 2024
There are two separate issues in dealing with the poor neighbour: 1. The command to love, and 2. What we must be to be able to obey

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

“The Law” refers to the Bible books of Genesis through Deuteronomy. “ The Prophets” refers to the prophetic books of the Hebrew Scriptures. However, when these terms are mentioned together, the expression could be understood to include the entire Hebrew Scriptures. -Google
“Wherever a man turns, he can find someone who needs him” – Albert Schweitzer
There was a lawyer, or a professor of law who asked our Lord Jesus: “And who is my neighbour”. Lk 10:29. This question arose, the Bible says, because he “wanted to justify himself!”.

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:29-37

The Priest, the Levite: Highly regarded in the things of God
The Samaritan: The lowly, the despised. You don’t expect much from them. Their belief and faith suspect! They are like the tax collectors that oppress the people and have loyalty to the Roman Occupation forces!
The Oil, the wine: Not water – expensive stuff of value! Not a beggars tip!
Took him to an Inn: Took a detour from his journey – went to the hospital!
“When I come back”. Though the victim was a stranger, he planned to return to give more help!
Imagine that the Samaritan were to be on the road, and he could not afford transport: Therefore was waiting for someone to give him a lift!
But many times, especially in present-day Oda and Nigeria, we can honestly say that we do not have; in fact, we are so poor that we are supposed to be receiving! And that may be true. It therefore means that our first obligation is to remove ourselves from that state of dependency and want.
The Bible commands us in sundry places and divers manners to give. The idea of a Christian, whose disposition is that of a beggar, who simply waits for others to go and work so to give to him, is strange!
That we are the poor – is often not a poverty in material goods, it is, additionally, a poverty in the mind. See what Paul said to the Ephesians:
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:32-35
What kind of work did he do to achieve this? We have a revelation “After these things, he went away from Athens, and came to Corinth. 2 And there he came across a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by birth, who not long before had come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had given orders that all Jews were to go away from Rome: and he came to them; 3 And because he was of the same trade, he was living with them, and they did their work together; for by trade they were tent-makers. 4 And every Sabbath he had discussions in the Synagogue, turning Jews and Greeks to the faith”. Acts 18:1-4
What would be the equivalent of that in our day? Perhaps a mason or a carpenter? Paul could have stayed on a high horse and demanded to be served while he preached to the Ephesians among whom he lived! But no! He preached that we should not be highminded “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” Romans 12:16-17. Look also at the exhortation to Timothy: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” – ITim 6:17
Finally, we must remember that we are not proprietors of our lives, our talents or our possessions! We are but stewards. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Examples: 1. 12 year-old boy; 2. Servants in Lagos; 3. Getting my salary at First Bank.

Spirit of God, Descend upon my heart
Wean it from earth through all its pulses move
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art
And help me love Thee as I ought to love!

Has thou not bid us love Thee Lord and King?
All, all thine own soul, heart and strength and mind!
I see Thy cross, there teach my heart to cling
O help me seek Thee and O let me find!
George Croly