Wisdom Tool Kit For Daily living (Day 53)

Daily Devotional

Are You A Samaritan Or A Second Vulture

 

Text: Luke 10:25-37

 

Message

The parable of the Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus is preaching to his disciples, when a lawyer stands up and asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by asking the man what the Bible says. The man replies that it states that he will love God with all of his heart and soul, and love his neighbor as he loves himself.

 

Jesus tells him this is the right answer. But the man asks: who counts as my ‘neighbor’?

Jesus then tells his listeners that a man was once traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by thieves who stole his clothes and wounded him, leaving him half-dead. A Jewish priest came past, but although he saw the man, he passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Levite, a member of a different tribe, came past and looked at the poor man, but he, too, walked on by on the other side of the road.

But then a Samaritan passed, and when he saw the man in need of help, he had compassion and he went to him and bound up his wounds with oil and wine. Then he put the man on his horse and led him to an inn, where he looked after the man.

The next day, the Samaritan has to leave the inn, but he gives the innkeeper two pence and asks him to look after the wounded man. He also says that if the innkeeper needs to spend more money on looking after the man, the Samaritan will repay him when he returns.

 

Jesus asks his listeners: which of these was the true neighbor of the man who was attacked by thieves? The answer is the man who showed mercy and helped him in his time of need. He instructs his followers to follow the Samaritan’s example and help any person, regardless of their tribe or ethnic group, if they need a stranger’s help.

 

What is the moral of the story of the Good Samaritan?

 

Having the intent to help is good but acting on that intent is much better. The Samaritan’s intent didn’t save the wounded man from death. It’s his actions that ultimately saved the man’s life. He didn’t walk away just like the two men before Him

(To be continued as “The Second Vulture” tomorrow)

 

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