The Good Samaritan As Our Role Model

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, it was the unlikely Samaritan who offered his services to the hapless victim on the road to Jericho.  This story shows what a good neighbor really is--one who comes to the aid to anyone he can help and in need.  This is the summation of loving our neighbor because the teachers asked Jesus who their neighbor was and He used this story to explain. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves! The real test of love is to the ones not so lovable--those outside our tribe or, in today's terms, political affiliation.  Sacrificial love and unconditional love, not with strings attached or quid pro quo. Men always seem to be out for a motive to see what's in it for them.

The remarkable point of this story is the prejudice of the Pharisees who couldn't even answer Jesus' question as to who was the good neighbor.  They didn't even want to mention the word Samaritan because these people were hybrid Jews or illegitimate. The Jews only thought that salvation was for them as a privileged people, nation, or race, but Jesus made it clear that He came to save all men and cared even about the despised Gentiles.  Each of us may have the opportunity to help out someone less fortunate than us or some person in need in our lives and we must take it seriously; for Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of His brethren, we have done for Him.

We must all come to the aid of our countryman in his time of need! We all have a calling to be servants and to lay down our lives as it were as a token of our love and devotion.   The least we can do is to meet the basic needs of someone that we have the opportunity to help and also the means to do it.  God blesses us so we can be a blessing! (cf. Zech. 8:13)    Our cup must overflow!  The ethic of Jesus is the highest bar achievable and only Jesus did, but be not discouraged: direction is the test, but perfection is the standard (cf. Matt. 5:48). We will not become glorified till we reach heaven where we will be rewarded according to our works, not our faith--what we did with it. Even offering a cold cup of water in Jesus name will not go unrewarded and what we've done to the least of His brethren, we've done to Him (cf. Matt. 25:40).

There is a story of a man in danger during a flood and, when climbing to the roof of his house, he prays for salvation from Jesus  A boat goes by and offers help, but he rejects it. A chopper goes by and he rejects it.  Finally, a paratrooper lands and offers help only to be rejected.   When the man drowns and goes to heaven he asks Jesus why He wasn't saved.  The Lord said that He was in the boat, chopper, and paratrooper to offer more personal assistance and He was rejected.  Jesus has no hands but our hands and uses us to accomplish His will.

We may someday have the opportunity to stop miraculously into someone's life to offer life-saving help in a person's time of need as Jesus incognito.  Just think how the parable of the Good Samaritan would be told if the Samaritan had been rejected because of his nationality to offer help.  Today we have Samaritans by another name: those of an opposing or competing political persuasion.   NB:  The Christian ethic is the highest bar to achieve and none of us fulfills it; the Christian life is not hard, it's impossible!      Soli Deo Gloria!