"I Do Not Care!"

(Luke_10:35 KJV) And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

This has to be one of the most heart-warming stories in the Bible. Every time I read it I examine myself to see how I measure up to this ordinary caring man. Just about the time I think I am doing pretty well, I do something that makes me wonder.

In the natural it does not make sense for one to bear such a cost for something he had nothing to do with. However, this kind man was not only willing to pay the bill for the stranger’s immediate care, but he was also willing to set up a line of credit for his future care. His desire was to pay the full price even before he knew what the full price would be.

I am sure many would think, “Why is he doing this? What does he hope to get out of this?” It is amazing how in the natural we seem to always think in terms of ulterior motives. In this case there were none…he just cared!

This kind of love and care has to come from the supernatural realm and not the natural realm. I kinda understand how one can love this much if there is a relationship, however, how can one love this much when there is not a relationship?

Over the years I have actually heard two pastors stand and face their congregation and say, “I don’t care what you think, I just don’t care.”  I must admit I was as shocked and stunned as their congregations. I cannot imagine any loving parent sitting at the dinner table and making such a statement to their children.

As a matter of fact I cannot even imagine how such a thought can even enter one’s mind, much less come out of one’s mouth. What a contrast between these two pastors who are supposed to love and care for their sheep and the kind man in our text who did not even know the one he was helping.

Even if the pastors did not mean for their words to be as harsh as they sounded, that still does not change anything. The devil has the right to bind one to their words because he does not consider what you meant to say, but will use what you actually said. This of course brings a couple of scriptures to mind which can be sobering as well.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue:...” (Proverbs 18:21 KJV)

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34 KJV)

I am not sure that it is possible to be a true pastor and not care. I am not implying that the two men do not have a call of God on their lives. I am suggesting that perhaps their call is not that of pastoring a congregation.

If the stranger in our text is an example of how one should love and care for one who has been beaten up, is bloody, and undesirable, then perhaps all of us should check out our motives for ministry as well.

Father,

Help us to mature past our childish outbursts in times of personal frustration. Help us to understand that there is a penalty for such loose words which can and will be held against us. Lord, help us to be caring like the man in our text.

Amen