The Good Samaritan

The Road of Decision

Today in ECC, Pastor Mark's sermon have struck a chord in many people's hearts. We live in a country where similar situation, as the parable have shown, is happening all the time. And we are tested each time to make the right decisions.

The story of the good Samaritan tells of a Jewish man falling in the hands of thieves and left half dead on the road. During that time, the road to Jericho is very dangerous and known for thieves. Three people passed by and saw the hurting man.

1st Person - expert of the law. He avoided him and passed by on the other side. 

Sad to say, we are like him. I am like him. When we meet people especially those who we consider as lower status, we think that it is better to keep distance and avoid them because if we get closer, we will be required to help and they may take advantage of us and then we may get hurt also.

2nd Person - a leader. He slows down to look at him and then also passed by on the other side. 

Many times we see people who needs help. We curiously look at them and stop there. We think it is better not to get involved so we ignore them and do nothing.

3rd Person - a samaritan. In the time of Jesus, Samaritans were treated like 'dogs'. They were despised and considered as lower class people. But this samaritan saw the man in the road and had compassion on him and helped him. He have no idea who the person was and he have absolutely nothing to gain from helping him. Yet he decided and acted instantly.

I was wrong when I said before, that we need to stay away from people and avoid attachments. I realized that to live fully, we must not fail to love in every opportunity. We don't have any excuse to be unloving. Yes, it may cost us something, our time, money, and maybe we'll get hurt too. But then, to love unconditionally is what makes life meaningful.

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“Too often we underestimate the

power of a touch, a smile,

a kind word,

a listening ear,

an honest compliment,

or the smallest act of caring,

all of which have the potential

to turn a life around.” 

- by Leo Buscaglia

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