SPuncfay
tfcAco/
" INTRODUCTION
This lesson underscores our human tendency to voice
, noble resolve. We sing “All to Jesus I Surrender” when
... we find it hard to surrender much'of anything to Him We
“ sing “Jesus is All the World to Me” when He sometimes
seems to count very little. It seems that the feeling of
many people is that all men are equal before God, all are
loved by Him, and all should be'our concern, but only if
they are truly homogenous with us.
THE LESSON
„ ( “A teacher of the law came up and tried to trap Jesus,
“ ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to receive eternal life? ’
r; Jesus answered him, ‘What do the Scriptures say? How do
y°u interpret them?’ The man answered, ‘Love the Lord
~ your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
" your strength, and with all your mind; and love your
neighbor as you love yourself.’ ‘You are right,’ Jesus
- replied, ‘do this and you will live.’” (Luke 10:25-28)
The lawyer was one'of the scholars who specialized in
r the 01d Testament law. Probably he was a Pharisee, for
members of that sect took great pride in their devotion to
the law. He wasn’t seeking information. He tempted Jesus.
The term tempted is hot used here in the sense of a
solicitation to sin, but rather as a tesf of Jesus’ wisdom and
of His competency in handling the Scripture. Knowing the
prejudice'of mosfof the lawyers, we suppose this one was
hoping that Jesus would fail the test and be discredited
before the listening people.
When Jesus was asked about the requirements for
eternal life, He referred to the laws of the Ten
Commandments. The fact is the law with its commands
was in effect until Jesus died'on the cross. By His death,
Jesus inaugurated a new age in which men were to be
saved through trust in Him. At the time'of His death the
- veif of the temple was torn apart, also showing that a “new
and living way” to God was now"opened.
The lawyer’s answer was a summary'of the principal
' teaching'of the law as found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and
Leviticus 19:18. There is great power in these words. To
love God is so much more than just to respect Him,'or be in
awe'of His might,'or to be sobered by His righteousness. To
love Him is to appreciate His goodness, His concern for us,
His many gifts in the creation of this earth, and above all
what He did to reveal Himself to us in the sending'of His
Son. We should want to do His will, to know Him better. We
should desire to please Him and delight in Him. This love
should hot be halfhearted. It must be vital and vibrant
within us. It cannot be just an emotional impulse, but must
engage our very best thought. The more'our hearts open to
God the more His peace,, purity, and sensitivity will
blossom within us. The more'our minds contemplate His
works of wisdom and grace the more delighted and
enthralled we shall be. This relationship with God is hot
cultivated in an “isolation Booth” where we can hear, see,
or communicate with no'one but God. All His children are
t, bound up with Him in life, so when John speaks of abiding
‘ in “the love'of the Father,” again and again he stresses
how important it is to loveour brothers and sisters also.
The lawyer had asked Jesus to define' or explain who was
, his neighbor - that is, whom did the commandment'^ God
say he was to love “as himself?” But the law did hot
\ exactly define who is a neighbor, nor did Jesus describe
? one’s neighbor in terms'of national identity, racial type,'or
; religious allegiance. He turned the lawyer’s thinking from
; “whom am I required to love, and therefore, help?” to
* “Who, by loving and helping, showed that he was a
'l neighbor?” Neighborliness is basecT on opportunity, avail
; ability, and compassionate concern. Do we have the
“ opportunity because'of various circumstances to be kind
- and helpful? Do we have the available means to render
> assistance? And do we have the concern that leads us to
i act?
* It seems so obvious that no argument was possible when
Jesus asked which' one' of the three travelers who saw the
wounded man (Luke 10:29-37) was really a neighbor to
him. All saw his need and could have done something to
relieve that need. But'only the Samaritan had compassion
• on the man and did something to help him. The real
j, obedience to God’s command to love was seen in the deeds
£ of mercy that were done by the Samaritan. His religious
theory may have been at fault, his social status among the
Jews may have been scorned, but his actions are those of
compassionate concern-pleasing to God. The Scripture
ic offers persistent stress on the works of love that the
believer in God shall carry out.
Through television, other means'of communication, and
transportation now available to us we are able to kriow
about and help people in remote areas of the world. Jet
planes can whisk'one almost anywhere in a short time. We
can therefore become aware'of human need and oppor
tunities for Christian service in many places, and can have
a part in filling those needs. It is possible to spend a week
or two at mission outposts, serving as electricians,
plumbers, carpenters, dooks, nurses, teachers, etc. We
can spend some time right here in our own city as
volunteers for the Crisis Ministry, the Fdod Bank, the
Crisis Clothing Ministry, the Day Cafe Shelter for Street
People, etc. Needs that may be met by those willing te
serve. - l, • > * •’ j* #
One who possesses the spirit'of a neighbor, as Jesus
described it in the parable of the Good Samaritan, will
\ find ways and means to help' others whenever and
• we can.
enough to be able tp say, “I didn’t harm
ape say, “But I didn’t hppiayq—
BEAT THE WINTER BLAHS l
f READ THE CHARLOTTE POST
Esther Fybrace of Charlotte poses with her retirement plaque and a
brick from Highland Junior High School in Gastonia, where she taught
for 10 of her 42 years in the education field. Mrs. Fybrace, a home
economics teacher, retired in November. (Photo by Audrey Lodato)
SoBd Waste Management Plan
A public hearing will be held
Thursday night, February 13, at the
Environmental Health Depart
ment, 1200 Blythe Blvd., for dis
cussion of a proposed solid waste
management plan for Charlotte
Mecklenburg. The hearing will
begin at 7 p.m.
The hearing will be conducted by
the County’s Solid Waste Manage
ment Advisory Board, an official
advisory board to the Board of
County Commissioners. The waste
management board will submit the
proposed plan to the County Com
missioners for their consideration
and approval on March 3. In
Charlotte-Mecklenburg, County
government is responsible for solid
waste disposal.
Executive summaries of the plan
are available in the County En
gineering Department, 700 N.
Tryon Street, and in the County’s
Public Service and Information
Department, 720 E Fourth St. The
entire document is available for the
public to read at the Engineering
Department
Persons who wish to be heard at
the public hearing are asked to call
the Engineering Department,
336-3874, to have their names put on
the agenda. It is suggested that a
written copy of the comments also
be provided to the advisory board at
the time of the hearing. You are
asked to limit your remarks to five
minutes. Persons who cannot attend
the public hearing may submit their
comments in writing to the En
gineering Department.
For additional information, con
tact Cary Saul, County Engineer
ing Department, 336-2713, or Mary
McDaniel, chairman of the Solid
Waste Management Advisory
Board, 597-2307.
THE CHARLOTTE POST
52 Weeks Of Informative,
Entertaining Issues From The
Number One
Weekly Newspaper In Charlotte!
".Now Subscribe, For Only *1776
PAMELA A. HUNTER
Attorney at Law
129 W. Trade Street - Suite 600
Charlotte, N.C 28202
(704) 376-7709
* Social Security Disability
(No Fee Unless You Win)
Workers' Compensation
Wrongful Death
Traffic Accidents
DUI - First Offense - $400.00
Uncontested Divorce - $75.00 plus Filing Fee
By Appointment Only
AMERICAN CLEANERS—,
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
MARMOT MOTEL
1-77 AND TYVOLA RD.
UT. 11-4 Mi Ml MM I Mi.
COMI MI FOR YOURSELF
Now you can afford the finest qual
ity luxury furs at a fraction of the
retail price
HUNDREDS OF NEW FURS, don‘t
miss our trade-ins and estate furs
that look and feel like new but must
be classified second-hand used.
Older Women Issues
As women move on into maturity
well-being and health may become a
major issue, WomanReach,
Inc., UNCC Women’s Studies Pro
gram, and Community Health Ser
vices are jointly sponsoring a lec
ture, “Is There Life After 40?
The Health Issues of Older
Women,” February 5, Wednesday,
at i p.m. The lecture will be held at
Community Health Services, 1401 E.
7th St. The lecturer will be Dr. Betty
Gordon.
The WomanReach Center is a
United Way Agency
The facilities are handicapped
accessible and services are freely
given and freely received. For more
information and to register, call a
WomanReach peer counselor,
Monday - Saturday, from 100 a m. to
4 p.m., at 334-3614,
Sorority Workshop
Members of the Iota Chapter of
the Chi Eta Phi Sorority have re
cently completed training with the
American Cancer Society and are
now qualified to conduct workshops
in areas of breast, uterine, cervi
cal, lung, and colon-rectal cancers.
Any group or organization in
terested in scheduling a workshop
should call 527-9029 up until 2 p m.
and 399-0205 after 4:30 p.m.
r - -
| SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
THIS COULD BE YOUR YE AR
Write for free list of self-help
materials New self-help plans
especially for you. Print your
name and address on card or
letter to:
O.M. WARNER, BOX 62362,
LOS ANGELES, cA 900062
Records ft Tapes
"Your Uptown Record
Top Chart LP
12” Disco, Rock, 45’s
Country, Imports & Gospel1
121 E. Trade St. i
Beat the
WINTER BLUES
Buy Some Shoes!!!
_NOW!
• COUPON •
COUPON • COUPON
SHOE BIZ
Any $12.88 lor
$10.88
Limit 1 • Expires 3/1/86
_ 399-4353
FREEDOM MALL
Moo Sat 10-9
__Sun l -6
Braces for Children & Adults
DR. PAUL A. McGILL,
D.DJS., PjL
g*- ^^^"Practice Limited To Orthodontics”
CONVENIENT LOCATION
AND SATURDAY HOURS
(704) 375-7005
1028 West Fifth St., Charlotte, N.C. 28202
1 block from 1-77 near Irwin Avenue Junior H.S.
Office Hours By Appointment Only
STEWART
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Your Dependable Office Supply Dealer'
Selling & Leasing All Office Equipment & Furniture
1913 1-85 South, Charlotte, N.C. 28208
Phone: 394-9196
We Welcome All Corporate Accounts • Free Delivery
Ask About Our Discount Program
Ethan Allen now £$//& priced!
Country French Dining Room
The Country French dimng room ... now on sale
exemplifies the care and artistry that goes into
each Ethan Alien dass>c The mood is definitely
prestigious Of course a select group of Ethan Allen s
exciueve lamps, carpeting, draperies wan decor,
wallpaper and area mgs * 9aie priced, too1 So visrt
your Ethan ANen Gallery now during our Winter Sale!
Lot our Mortar Oootgnor* hotp you!
MWIOWI HOW OH Mil
Carriage House -
An Ethan Allen <s«ikn
<H» Bool OHO, tm) W >H<
Mnru HooOov ft 1M1 Ooly »HI