How can we "take care of" others as in Luke 10:35 today? Setting the Scene “The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’” (Luke 10:35) The Samaritan didn’t just rescue the wounded man from the roadside; he arranged for ongoing care, covered the bill, and pledged to settle anything extra. The verse shows love that plans ahead, pays the price, and promises follow-up. Core Truths We Can’t Miss • Compassion costs something—time, reputation, money, comfort. • Real love keeps going after the crisis moment ends. • God sees and rewards sacrificial care (Proverbs 19:17; Hebrews 6:10). Practical Ways to “Take Care of” Others Today 1. Meeting Immediate Needs • Buy groceries or a meal for a struggling neighbor (James 2:15-17). • Offer transportation to medical appointments or church. • Keep care kits (water, snacks, hygiene items, a gospel tract) in your car for the homeless. 2. Committing to Ongoing Support • Sponsor a child or missionary monthly—regular help mirrors the Samaritan’s promise to return. • Partner long-term with a local pregnancy center, food bank, or elder-care facility. • Set reminders to check back with someone recovering from surgery or loss. 3. Using Professional Skills • Medical personnel can volunteer at free clinics. • Mechanics can offer discounted repairs to single parents. • Teachers can tutor under-resourced students. “Serve one another with the gifts each has received” (1 Peter 4:10). 4. Opening Our Homes • Host international students or foster children; hospitality is a New Testament hallmark (Romans 12:13). • Provide temporary housing for believers displaced by disasters or persecution. 5. Bearing Spiritual Burdens • Pray with and for others on the spot—don’t simply promise, do it (Colossians 1:9-10). • Send Scripture-soaked notes or texts that remind suffering friends of God’s promises. • Walk with a repentant brother or sister, offering accountability and encouragement (Galatians 6:1-2). Courage to Cross Boundaries The Samaritan crossed ethnic and social lines. Today: • Step into neighborhoods unlike your own. • Listen to stories before offering solutions. • Treat every person as an image-bearer, not a project (Genesis 1:27). Staying Ready to Respond • Budget generosity: set aside a “Samaritan fund” in your monthly finances (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Keep margins in your schedule so interruptions become ministry. • Stay sensitive to the Spirit’s nudges; small obediences open doors to bigger ones. Why It Matters When we care for the vulnerable, we mirror Jesus, who paid every expense for our healing (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). Our hands become tangible evidence of the gospel we proclaim (1 John 3:17-18; Matthew 25:35-40). |
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