Everyday Good
Do you think the Samaritan thought about doing good?
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” - Luke 10:25-37
Jesus constructed this parable as a teaching aid, so we don't think it actually happened.
But does that matter?
The point of the story is that two others saw the man in need of help and had other priorities that kept them from taking action.
In fact, the thought of doing something may never have come to them at all.
The Samaritan, though, saw a man in need of help and went to him. Whatever his plan for the day was, this was now a priority, to do something to help.
One doesn't think of doing that unless they have their priorities straight.
You have to want to help others in need.
Jesus was showing us how selfish and self-absorbed we can be, whether we intend to be that way or not. We ave our daily lists of things we must do and everything not on those lists falls by the wayside.
But the Samaritan gave us a glimpse of ourselves with a different agenda, one focused on what we encounter, rather than what we plan.
He adjusted his schedule to be a help and it made all the difference.
More to come...