Arguably, anybody from a Christian
home would have repeatedly read or heard about the biblical tale of the Good
Samaritan. A didactic parable created to buttress the need to help a neighbor
in distress, with an emphatic explanation on being your brother’s keeper. It
might even be a stranger you are meeting for the first time. The story told us
that the man was (maybe or maybe not) a Jew. He was beaten, stripped and
robbed. On that same road, a prophet passed by without helping the man who had momentarily
lost consciousness. Even a Jew from his town avoided him. But a Samaritan, who was
supposed to do same, gave a helping hand. This was an epic time when there was
great hatred and enmity between the Jews and Samaritans; similar religious and
ethnic wars. This is a parable that has inspired teaching, painting, sculpture,
poetry, music, film, etc.
.
Simply put, you are a Good Samaritan
when you help your neighbour. You are a Good Samaritan when you help a complete
stranger. You are a Good Samaritan when you help him pay his PHCN bill. You are
a Good Samaritan when you help drive a cancer patient to General Hospital. You
are a Good Samaritan when you visit the State Prisons to visit, pray and give
words of exhortation to inmates. This is when you spare your availability to a
stranger (may be that person who urgently needs your time at that point in time).
In the same boat, for a clearer view,
let’s relate this story to what is happening in around the world today. You spent
time and energy to help rush an accident victim to the hospital, he dies on the
way and the police try to make you a prime suspect with endless questioning and
statement writing; or while driving down the road on a sunny weekend and somebody
ask you for a lift, only to realize later that he is an armed robber. A good
example is the reported story of a trader that lost her little daughter to a
customer on a trip to a market in Agege area of Lagos. This was a customer
turned kidnapper. This was somebody who appeared to be quite pleasant and
friendly. They started a casual relationship as her visits became regular. But
for the unbelievable intelligence for the Nigerian police, the baby might go
missing for life!
Owing to all these happenstances, I
began to ask myself these questions: Do we still have good Samaritans today?
What would have happened to the man in the bible story if the good Samaritan
refused to help him? Surely his death would or might have made somebody a
widow, orphan(s) or childless. Who knows if he was the bread winner of his
family? His life surely would have been the key to the dream of some people.
More often than not, it is necessary
to always play the role of the modern-day Good Samaritan. Even if you are
helping them at your own expense, you should always remember the law of “One
Good Turn Deserves Another”. It doesn’t really matter if you are always at
logger heads with the person in need. The naked truth is that it is very easy
for everyone to be a Good Samaritan or we can be selfish. Which category do you
belong?
It is also wise to beware of people
that talk the talk but never walk the walk. Pray for your enemies even at the
slightest opportunity. Trust in God and believe in yourself. Honestly, it pays
to do good. Period.
