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| photo from BBC.co.uk/education |
“Who is my neighbor?” the teacher of religious law asked Jesus.
In response, Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan,
where a Jewish traveler is stripped of his clothing, beaten, and left half dead
along the road. First a priest and then a religious leader walk by and observe
the poor fellow, but both avoid him. Finally, another man, a Samaritan, comes
upon him. Samaritans and Jews generally despised each other, but the Samaritan
helps the injured man and pays an innkeeper to continue his care.
Jesus uses this story to teach us about caring for our
fellow human beings as we traverse this earthly life. The undeniable truth is
that we cannot help everyone in need. Each one of us is inundated with appeals
to help others—through emails, snail mail, and posts on Facebook, TV
commercials, church bulletins and newsletters from civic organizations. We see
individuals on street corners and outside businesses with signs indicating
their needs. The stories behind those needs are often sad, sometimes angering,
and occasionally unbelievable. So, with our limited resources, we, too ask,
“Who is my neighbor?”
As individuals and organizations, we face an ongoing conundrum
in trying to figure out whom we can help. Which people are expressing genuine
need and which ones are merely asking us to enable them to continue to make
unwise choices?
In one of the Quiet Walk devotions posted by Walk
Thru the Bible, the author offered four lessons we can learn from the
parable of the Good Samaritan. I found these guidelines very insightful in
evaluating when we should help. Using Luke 10:25-37 as our template, we discover
that we are to assist a person in need when the following general criteria are
met:
- He or she comes across our path in the normal course of life;
- He or she has a legitimate need, not of his or her own making;
- He or she cannot help himself or herself;
- We have the ability to meet the need.
Amazingly, within hours of reading the Good Samaritan
devotional, Dick and I were approached with an appeal for funds. We weren’t
sure how or if we should help. When we considered the request in light of these
four guiding principles, the answer was clear! I hope, as you prayerfully ponder
aiding those in need, that you find these suggestions from Quiet Walk as
helpful as I did.
Be encouraged!
Pam©2016 Pamela D. Williams
