Review

• We Americans are so hurried – active all the time –even when we stop we are active
• The problem with constant activity – it effects our health
• We often speed right past right past the most important things

Proverbs 19:2 (NIV) Desire without knowledge is not good – how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

Hurriedness impacts our relationship with God

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Hurriedness impacts our relationships with others

• Relationships require time to know someone –patience

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NIV) ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Hurriedness impacts discipleship

• Program thinking in Africa – get through classes – information then you graduate
• Skipping steps with people to get a job done rather than to see maturity in others
• Having an agenda rather than a relationship

Hurriedness causes us to miss the work God has right in front of us

Luke 10:25–37 (NIV) ²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷ He answered, “ ‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

1. Notice all the commands are summed up in love for God and others –(Mt 22:37)
2. Notice Jesus reveals categories of people in this parable-and their focus in life
3. What is yours is mine if I can take it
4. What is mine is mine and you cant have it
5. What is mine is yours –I give it because it has been given to me

3. Those who were supposed to represent God walked by –why?
4. Maybe because they had done their religious service already -they had checked the box
5. Maybe because they were in a hurry to get to Jericho to serve the Lord there
6. Maybe because they thought the man deserved it –its his own fault –but they didn’t stop to see that hurting people may be at a crossroads – planting seeds happen in such ways
7. Maybe they were thinking about the big problems of the world and angry about something they are not in the position to change and missed what they were in the position to change

4. Gods word revels that every believer – the normal everyday person is invited by God into His service

2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NIV) ²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

5. Notice the Good Samaritan represents Gods way of doing things

• He saw the person as important
• He saw the need as an opportunity
• The good Samaritan took his time to meet the needs –he changed his schedule not just once but more – He would be going back to check on the man
• The Samaritan included others in the effort to help this man
• The Good Samaritan saw this as an opportunity to work with God to meet needs ‘

6. Notice Jesus said go and do likewise

• Jesus changed the question –who is my neighbor to who will I be a neighbor to?
• You set the standard – don’t give into the worlds way of doing things
• A hurried person speeds right past the relationships and the work God has for them daily –

Back to making this practical

1. Is there any white space in your daily walk – if you don’t press into your abiding sphere you will not have the overall goals of God in your life and you will not have the daily directions or power either.
2. Look at your schedule – waiting upon the Lord makes you spiritually aware — strategic – intentional – connected to God so that you can see His agenda for your life

Colossians 3:1–4 (NIV) ¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.