God’s love is great.
God’s love is everlasting.
God’s love is abundant.
That is what we have been told.
Today, I am going to tell you God’s love is little. God cares little. Don’t stop reading. Hear me out.
Jesus told a parable about a man who got robbed. The robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead.
Two religious leaders came along and saw the victim. Rather than helping, they avoided the man.
A Samaritan came along later. The Samaritan came to the victim’s aid (Luke 10:25-37).
We often interpret the teaching of this parable as a call to good Christian behavior. The Samaritan shows us the correct thing to do. Jesus told his listener to do likewise as well.
While we should do likewise, let me suggest a unique twist to the story. I want to suggest that the Samaritan is an example of God’s love. More, the example proves God’s love is little. Let me explain.
The Samaritan cared little about the identity of the victim. All the Samaritan saw was a man in need.
The Samaritan cared little about how, why, or what happened to the victim. All he saw was an injured person.
The Samaritan cared little about what it would cost to care for the victim. The Samaritan used the resources he had and promised to take care of any further expenses.
God’s love is similar.
God’s love cares very little about your identity. God only sees you as a person in need.
God’s love cares little about how, why, or what happened that caused you to be in need. All God sees is a person needing redeemed.
God cares little about what it cost to care for you. God sent his only Son and promises to take care of you forever.
God’s love is little. It’s the littleness, however, that makes it so big.
(Preached in 1999. Outline revised and edited for publication.)