Don't Look the Other Way
Get your brother's ox
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 22:1-4
Don’t lose the principle in the details when reading Scriptural texts that seem so culturally different that you can’t imagine their relevance to your life. This text in Deuteronomy is an example of this error. Most of us have never seen our brother’s ox straying. That doesn’t mean there is nothing here in this text for us. The principle is what we should look for.
The principle is wrapped around the repeated phrase, “you may not ignore them.” The point is when you see something that doesn’t directly impact your life, but it does matter to someone else – a neighbor, co-worker, friend, family member – you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to it. Do something.
The text also indirectly addresses the reason we are tempted to look the other way. Doing something is inconvenient and potentially costly. Taking action requires time, energy, changes in plans, and maybe some money. And apart from a warm fuzzy feeling, the reward is likely to be zilch.
Do something anyway. These kinds of instructions don’t come out of nowhere. They aren’t random. They come from the Great Commandment and its twin sister. Love God. Love your neighbor. If you ask, why should I bother? You should bother because bothering is an expression of love. When you do something you are doing unto your brother as you would have him do unto you. You would, after all, want someone to retrieve your straying ox. Therefore, retrieve their straying ox. You can’t look the other way.