When the Good Samaritan becomes just another Samaritan …

An observation of our culture tempts me to think we have two changes happening at once: An increase in the number of people in need of help, and a decrease in Good Samaritans.

There are few stories in the Bible that could compete with how well-known the story of the Good Samaritan is, even among non-believers. Nevertheless, let’s take a moment to refresh ourselves with the story:

“Jesus replied with a story: ‘A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, “Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.” Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’” Luke 10:30-37.

This is one of the most poignant illustrations provided to us to understand how God wants us to take care of each other. In our day, it seems we’re seeing more and more people who are falling into holes (problems, troubles, etc.) so deep they can’t get themselves out of it without help. It’s like we’re seeing fewer people who stumble on a path and scrape their knee, but can clean it up and move along; instead, we’re discovering more and more people half beaten to death by life and left to die.

And people who see, look, and walk on by.

Where are all the Good Samaritans?

It seems as those in dire need of someone to step into their lives so deeply to nurse them back to health is increasing, we’re responding more as just another Samaritan rather than a Good Samaritan.

In my lifetime, I don’t know of a time when the church more needed to hear these words from the Apostle Paul than we do now:

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. – Galatians 6:9

I’m seeing more and more people who are left abandoned. Maybe there’s a show of concern by a few for a while, but they quickly tire of the troubles and ailments of the broken and they, too, eventually walk away … like the priest switching to the other side of the road in the Good Samaritan story.

When we walk away — when we become “just another Samaritan” — we deprive ourselves of the blessing of a burden. Yes, I do mean blessing!

I’ve enjoyed reading about the life of Sundar Singh of India and his teachings on the Christian faith. In a Good Samaritan-styled story, Singh helps us understand in this story how great sacrifice for others is also a blessing for ourselves:

Shortly after coming to Christ, Sundar Singh, a Hindu convert to Christ, felt called to become a missionary to India. Late one afternoon Sundar was traveling on foot through the Himalayas with a Buddhist monk. It was bitterly cold and the wind felt like sharp blades slicing into Sundar’s skin. Night was approaching fast when the monk warned Sundar that they were in danger of freezing to death if they did not reach the monastery before darkness fell.

Just as they were traversing a narrow path above a steep cliff, they heard a cry for help. Down the cliff lay a man, fallen and badly hurt. The monk looked at Sundar and said, “Do not stop. God has brought this man to his fate. He must work it out for himself.” Then he quickly added while walking on, “Let us hurry on before we , too, perish.” But Sundar replied, “God has sent me here to help my brother. I cannot abandon him.”

The monk continued trudging off through the whirling snow, while the missionary clambered down the steep embankment. The man’s leg was broken and he could not walk. So Sundar took his blanket and made a sling of it and tied the man on his back. Then, bending under his burden, he began a body-torturing climb. By the time he reached the narrow path again, he was drenched in perspiration.

Doggedly, he made his way through the deepening snow and darkness. It was all he could do to follow the path. But he persevered, though faint with fatigue and overheated from exertion. Finally he saw ahead the lights of the monastery.

Then, for the first time, Sundar stumbled and nearly fell. But not from weakness. He had stumbled over an object lying in the snow-covered road. Slowly he bent down on one knee and brushed the snow off the object. It was the body of the monk, frozen to death.

“Years later a disciple of Sundar’s asked him, “What is life’s most difficult task?”

Without hesitation Sundar replied: “To have no burden to carry.”

It is God’s intention that we will help each other with the carrying of life’s burdens:

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important,” Galatians 6:2-3.

It will cost you dearly to bear the burdens of another. It will also bless you greatly. Are you stepping into — and staying — in the lives of those who need help to heal, or are you seeing, looking, and walking by?

Scotty