The story of the Good Samaritan is a perfect example of the brotherly love we are directed to show one another. But before we review the story, I want to start by discussing the role of this blog. I am not a therapist, counselor, nor a doctor. I am simply a sister who lost her brother to suicide without any inkling it was coming. He kept his emotions hidden so well. He was suffering alone. Trying to find a solution without exposing himself to the world. This blog is not meant to be a substitute for any treatment you may be participating in. It’s not meant to be the only treatment either. It’s also not all research based or studied. But what it is, is the ponderings of a sister who is reflecting on her brother’s death and through guidance from the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is trying to share what she believes is a viable outline of the qualities of a fulfilled life. Qualities necessary to promote a healthy mindset for living contently. Once you begin to recognize Jesus is the answer and you begin to implement the steps he lays forth in scripture, you will begin to see there is hope for a genuine contentment in this world. At that point, it seems to me, one may be more open to trying the resources of this world as a supplement in their healing. This blog is simply a call to Christ and a call to recognize he is the way the truth and the life.
Moving on…Brotherly love, this is what we are called to do. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27. We don’t have to look far to get a definition of love either. In our modern day, love seems to be more about what makes us feel all warm and fuzzy and what serves ourselves best in the moment. But true love, is not that at all. Genuine, true love is defined for us as: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.
So true love isn’t about how something makes us feel at all. It’s actually the opposite. To genuinely love someone is no easy feat. To humbly put someone else’s needs, emotions, wants before our own goes against human nature. Just think, we come out of the womb kicking and screaming until we get what makes us feel good. This goes on throughout childhood, though we are taught better ways to communicate. It continues through our years, though we begin to apply patience. But in today’s world we are told to indulge, buy now, treat yourself in every advertisement we see. One article I read from 2021, states the average person saw between 6,000-10,000 ads a day. That’s brainwashing levels, isn’t it? Makes it hard to feel content. It actually leaves us feeling empty, which is really the purpose of the ads in the first place. The purpose is to leave us empty, wanting more so we buy and spend more. That alone should prove it’s falsehood.
Jesus gives us an example of brotherly love in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A little history, though I am no history buff, is necessary in really absorbing the depth of the love provided in this story. During the time Jesus was walking the earth and ministering, the Jews and the Samaritans were against each other. The Jews were the chosen people of God and did not believe any other group of people could be blessed by their God. The Samaritans were outsiders, with many other gods, though they were beginning to see the blessings of the one true God and wanted to be part of His chosen tribe as well. This lead to much tension between the two groups of people. So much so that they had their own territories and went out of their way to avoid each other’s lands with much effort. The Jews were also forbidden to associate, befriend, or marry a Samaritan. The Jews and the Samaritans were enemies within the land of Israel.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:29-37.
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 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. 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.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
This is the perfect example of going against the mainstream ideas of society, breaking down barriers and ignoring the judgement of others (who are by no means qualified to judge) in order to achieve the feeling of genuine love. Which as stated, only comes from putting others first. Our reward is the Kingdom of Heaven. And that’s eternal. There is nothing more satisfying then resting in that assurance.
