Tempted to Pass By on the Other Side

Luke 1:30-37   Parable of the Good Samaritan

You may be familiar with this parable Jesus told about a man who had been attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left half dead on the road.  A priest was going down the road, and a Levite also saw the man and passed by on the other side.  But another man, a Samaritan who was on a journey, saw the man, and he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them.  He put the wounded man on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he gave the innkeeper two denarii (2 days wages) and told him to take care of the man. He promised to return and repay the innkeeper whatever more he spent on caring for the man.

I’ve known this parable since I was a child in Sunday School. But God reminded me of it in a powerful way this week. Several years ago, He brought someone into my life and we became friends.  Her life has been difficult, and I have been happy to spend time with her occasionally, listening and encouraging her, and pointing her to the Lord for help and wisdom.  But we had drifted apart over the last year or so, and I had not known how desperate her situation had become. Until last week.

I had been judgmental about the priest and Levite, God’s servants in the temple. How could they ignore this man who had been beaten and left for dead?   I’m ashamed to admit my initial response to my friend’s situation when I found out about her desperate situation.  Like the priest and the Levite in Jesus’ parable, my first inclination was to “pass by on the other side.”  I thought, “This is too hard… I wouldn’t even know where to begin to help her with so many needs… Lord, send someone else who is better equipped to help her.”

I found out that her own primary care doctor had referred her to a medical clinic for evaluation.  The Lord prompted me to offer to drive her to that appointment and stay with her during the evaluation.  I knew that added pressure on her of having to drive to an unfamiliar location and meet with new doctors and try to retain all the information would have been extremely difficult. She was so thankful that I offered to be with her! 

Before we went into the clinic, we prayed together and read a few Scriptures. We agreed that God had provided this, and declared our trust in God. We asked for her peace, and wisdom for the doctors who would be treating her. 

As I was sitting in the evaluation room with her, the Lord made it absolutely clear to me that He had brought us together several years ago “for such a time as this.”  It was a blessing to me to witness how God had provided this appointment for her.  The doctor she is assigned to was so kind, and she carefully listened to my friend as she explained the issues she is dealing with. The doctor spent a great deal of time discussing the availability of mental, physical, emotional, and practical care that is available through the team of doctors and specialists at this clinic. My friend’s attitude of despair changed to one of hope with this promise of help. 

Jesus ended the parable with a question, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  The answer was, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”  Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”  And that is what the Lord is asking of me right now with my friend.  It is so clear that it was God who brought our lives together in a relationship of love and trust several years ago.  I can’t use the excuse that I don’t have what it takes to fix her.  I realize God is not expecting me to fix her.  He’s asking me to trust Him to give me the love, compassion, wisdom, time and energy to walk through this extremely difficult situation with her as He leads and provides for each step of the way.

I have prayed this prayer: Lord, forgive me for being tempted to “pass by on the other side” and hope that someone else will come along to help her. Thank you that You are the Shepherd who leads us when we call out to you for help. Thank you for encouraging me with Your words in these verses:

2 Corinthians 3:5: Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.

James 1:5  If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for Me (NIV).

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has God called you to reach out to help someone who is in a desperate situation? 

Do you feel inadequate to help?

Maybe you are personally feeling desperate and in need of help.  Will you call out to God for help and trust Him to provide exactly what you need in His time?

Has the personal experience I shared helped you in any way?  Consider writing your own prayer to God asking for His clear direction as you trust Him for His wisdom.  He is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18).