One day I was at a first aid class, because I am a
teacher I have to take them, and the instructor asked, "what is the Good
Samaritan Law?" I had just raised my hand to answer when the instructor
called on someone else. She said that the law protects you if you walk by
someone who is hurt. The instructor said, "no, actually it protects you
from the person you help from taking legal action against you, if you try to
help the him/her."
My first thought was it somewhat made sense that she thought that was what the law said. I mean, in the story of the Good Samaritan the Priest and the Levite both passed by the man. But, the whole point of the story is that we are not to be like them. We are to be like the Good Samaritan. If we were to be like the Priest or the Levite it would be called the "Holier than thou Law" (JK somewhat).
Next I thought about how this proves that people have their priorities way out of line nowadays. People would rather walk away from those in need than get involved. Why is that? We don't want to get messy, or take time out from our busy schedules. We, like the Priest, think "this person is not worth my time." What if you were the person in need? Would you want someone to take time then? Yes, you would.
Matthew 7:12 says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." We have laws in our country we are to follow but we also follow the Bible. The Greatest commandment in the Bible boils down to love God and the second boils down to love others. If we love God and love others we will do what we can to help them. If you were hurt you would want that person who is late for a meeting to stop and help you, right? Why can't you stop to help that person in need?
So, the next time you see someone in need will you be like the Priest or like the Good Samaritan? What can you do to help someone today?
My first thought was it somewhat made sense that she thought that was what the law said. I mean, in the story of the Good Samaritan the Priest and the Levite both passed by the man. But, the whole point of the story is that we are not to be like them. We are to be like the Good Samaritan. If we were to be like the Priest or the Levite it would be called the "Holier than thou Law" (JK somewhat).
Next I thought about how this proves that people have their priorities way out of line nowadays. People would rather walk away from those in need than get involved. Why is that? We don't want to get messy, or take time out from our busy schedules. We, like the Priest, think "this person is not worth my time." What if you were the person in need? Would you want someone to take time then? Yes, you would.
Matthew 7:12 says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." We have laws in our country we are to follow but we also follow the Bible. The Greatest commandment in the Bible boils down to love God and the second boils down to love others. If we love God and love others we will do what we can to help them. If you were hurt you would want that person who is late for a meeting to stop and help you, right? Why can't you stop to help that person in need?
So, the next time you see someone in need will you be like the Priest or like the Good Samaritan? What can you do to help someone today?
James 2:8 and Leviticus 19:18
Image from here.
No comments:
Post a Comment