The Life of a Good Samaratin (Jesus, priest, ritual, mystic)

[Mystic-als]

Obviously reading the story of the good samaratin couldn't have been an easy one. Or could it?
He had enough money to pay in advance for the injured mans accomodation and care. This made me think.
How can I be a good samaratin to those around me if I am not financially well off?

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Mystic-als

How can I be a good samaratin to those around me if I am not financially well off?

Treat others with respect and kindness even when no one else will. You don't have to spend gobs of money just to be kind.

[Mystic-als]

What happens when you come accross someone who is destitute and doesn't have a place to stay? Do you offer some of your food and house for them?I know that I am not even near enough to being a good samaratin in that way.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Mystic-als

What happens when you come accross someone who is destitute and doesn't have a place to stay? Do you offer some of your food and house for them?I know that I am not even near enough to being a good samaratin in that way.

I can't tell you what you need to do for every "what if." There are no set rules for this sort of thing. Not in the Bible anyway. I think all that God requires of us in this case is to try our best to help those that need it. Those are my my thoughts on it anyway.

[Mystic-als]

I'm not for one second saying you are wrong. I am just looking for answers. Or maybe better said, suggestions on how to help less fortunate people. The bible says the poor will always be with us. So are we fighting a losing battle.

[sojourner]

You're missing the point of the lesson. It began with a lawyer asking Jesus how to attain eternal life. Jesus asked him what the Law said. He answered, "Love God and love your neighbor." Jesus said, "Do these and you will live." He answered, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered with the story. Then he asked, "Who acted more like a neighbor? (The priest, the Pharisee [who were both well-respected Jews], or the Samaritan [who was ritually impure])."

The point of the story isn't to "emulate the Samaritan." It's meant to answer the question of "who is my neighbor?" Or, "Whom shall I love?" It goes back to the Jewish understanding of "neighbor."

The lawyer sought a legal answer. He wanted parameters (what's the minimun I must do in order to live?) Jesus gave him an answer based not upon legality, but upon love and acceptance (what's the greatest limit you can aspire to in order to love others?)

It's clear from the story that 1) ritual purity does not make up for acts of kindness, 2) neighbor encompasses those whom you'd rather not be around, and 3) legality does not indicate purity of heart. The bottom line of the story is that acting in a manner consistent with love and inclusion is a good thing.

[blueman]

We can serve others in many different capacities, but the most important is to show love to others. There is no price you can put on that.

[Mystic-als]

Watch "Pay it forward"
Thats how to do it. (IMO)

[Happier]

When confronted with this same question in my own life, I first went to God and repented for not being open enough to others' needs. Then I asked him to provide me with opportunities to help.

In response, he not only made me more intuitive and sensitive to others, he opened my eyes to some things in my own life that needed attending to. I found that my husband was having the same feelings, like we just weren't doing enough.

Since then we've made it our goal to simplify every aspect of our lives to free the resources he has give us (time, talents and money) to help others. Believe me, that is easier said than done.

It became obvious right away that we spend so much time being so busy...! Just thinking of all the time I spent commuting in my life, boggles the mind. The process of buying houses, renovating, selling them, starting businesses, growing them, selling them... it makes me exhausted just thinking about it.

He's given each of us gifts like for some it's wealth, for others compassion for the elderly or disabled, for some it is the ability to see when someone is hurting and knowing what to say.

There are so many distractions it's easy to spend a lifetime just getting from one day to the next trying to keep it together. Now we live in the 'Love Shack' out in the woods, and life is much simpler. We sold all of our antique store inventory, the building, our big old house, and 'collections' over a two year period, but still our attic is crammed full of stuff I need to sell on ebay.

Now we send support to a little girl in Zimbabwe, a family of 11 in Nicaragua, and two years ago initiated a strict rule at Christmas where we only give gifts to those in need in the community (and to the little ones in the family). But the gifts God has given us through this whole journey have been priceless: peace of mind, freedom from debt, opportunity to be of service, and more time with Him and each other.

Now we're so much
-- Happier

[Happier]

P.S.:

We have had many 'magical coincidences' too after we started this... someone will need some money and we just happen to have gotten a refund check or unexpected cash from somewhere... Whenever this happens, we tell the person it is NEVER a loan. They will always insist they want to pay it back -- and we tell them yes, but not to us. We are very clear that it was a gift from God that must be passed on to the next person in need.