Free yourself from judgement
“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9)
Think for moment of the individual or group or people with which you have your deepest disagreement. The sentiment you have toward that person or group is the way Jews and Samaritans felt about each other. Hatred is not too strong a word to describe their feelings. Samaritans were “half-Jews” and because of that, the Jews truly despised the Samaritans. Because of the way the Jews treated them, the Samaritans had equal disdain toward the Jews.
Add to that the “second class” way in which woman were regarded at Jesus’ time, and it would seem truly surprising Jesus would ask a Samaritan woman for a drink at the local well. That is the surprise the Samaritan woman expresses in our verse this week.
As surprised as the woman was because of the cultural norms of her day, we should not be surprised at all. We are told time and time again Jesus is the Savior of all and 1 Timothy 2:4 reminds us of Jesus “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Unlike human beings — who make decisions about what someone is or isn’t worthy of because of how we feel about them or what they have or haven’t done to us — God is loving and completely impartial.
That attitude is one all Christians should work to imitate. That attitude is especially important for people who are part of a Christian ministry whose primary focus is “the care of the soul.” Have you ever thought of your work in that light? How easily we might be tempted to make judgments or decisions based on how we feel about someone.
If you look at things very simply, we can thank God that he didn’t make a judgment or decision about us based on the way we act toward him. When we look at our sin and what it rightly deserves, and contrast that with the loving and generous way God treats us, we have a great example.
Yes, we might want to give the cold shoulder to fellow TLHA teammates or do as little as possible for residents or their families because of the way we’ve been treated. Before you start to give in to such a temptation, stop and think of the grace God has given and continues to give to you!