Being a Samaritan
I used to think I’d be pretty good at making like the good Samaritan.
 I guess you know the story—Jewish guy robbed and beaten on the Jerusalem –Jericho highway. A priest finds him, but walks by. A Levite (Levites care for the temple—think deacon) takes a closer look, but then also walks on.
Enter the Samaritan and his donkey.
(Note: This is a neat twist in Jesus’ story. Jews tended to hate Samaritans. The Samaritans were once Jews who, generations before, had intermarried with other races and then developed their own religious beliefs. Most Jews saw Samaritans as rejecting the true God and their racial heritage. There was ethnic and religious tension between the two—how often does that turn to hatred?)
Anyway, enter the Samaritan and his donkey. He sees a human need and cares for it.
I used to think I’d be pretty good at making like the good Samaritan. It’s obvious. If someone is hurting you need to help. And I do, don’t I?
Hey, I gave money to ADRA for the Asian tsunami appeal. Besides I’m a professional. As a pastor, most days I see people who are hurting in some way.
So what? The priest was a professional and he missed it.
How many times have I seen a need, but rushed on because it was more important to catch the latest episode of CSI-Vladivostok (wait for it)?
Besides, the media bring us information about so much need from around the world I could go mad and broke trying to help everyone. You could be so distracted by these needs to think you can’t do anything.
I can’t help everyone and there are times when I do have to sort my sock drawer. But that doesn’t mean I can’t help someone. And it starts with those I find along the way—that’s how the Samaritan did it.
I’m beginning to wonder if most times I make more like the priest or the Levite than a good Samaritan. I’m determined, though, to look for needs, to be more aware of others, to be open to God’s leading and to set my player to record CSI-Vladivostok.
(Note: The donkey is not an essential aid for being a good Samaritan—I hope.)
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Bruce Manners (left) is senior pastor of
the Avondale College church.