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Annette Buell - Author

The character Robin Hood, in Sherwood Forest, was well known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor—making him a champion of the common people (1) and the apple of the eye of his fair maiden.

And then there is the Good Samaritan in the book of Luke in the Bible…

The land of Samaria has a long history—from being the capital, residence, and burial place of the kings of Israel to a region many Jews would go out of their way to avoid as they traveled (2). New York City, maybe? (I have visited once and have no desire to return.)

I picture the Good Samaritan as just an average Joe trying to make a living.

My modern-day Samaritan—Joe.

So Joe comes across a man lying in a ditch who had been beaten and robbed. Did he kick him while he was down? It reminds me of an old saying: when men get into a fight, they offer a hand up to the one in the ditch—but when women fight, they kick the one in the ditch.

Back to Joe—he’s a man’s man, and he offers a hand. He shows compassion to the man.

Joe didn’t have a medical bag or a travel emergency kit, but he found a water bottle under his seat and an extra white T-shirt that enabled him to clean up the man’s wounds.

Joe had an old, beat-up Chevy pickup, so he gave the man a ride to the nearest town, where he found a wonderful older lady who ran a bed and breakfast.

That night, Joe stayed with the man and cared for him. But Joe had an appointment the following day. Hmm… should I stay or go? That appointment was with the feed mill, which was offering to buy his spring crops—income his family would need for the winter. He had to go.

So the next morning, Joe spoke with the innkeeper and asked if she would care for the man. When Joe came back through town with funds from the sale, he would reimburse her for any expenses she incurred while caring for him. The innkeeper agreed, and off Joe went.

Luke 10:37 sums it up best:
“And he said, ‘He that showed mercy on him.’ Then said Jesus unto him, ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’”

Take time to read the rest of the story (only Generation X will get that)—Luke 10:29–37.

Could Joe provide proper medical treatment? Of course not. Why?

Why didn’t Joe just stay at the inn until the man was healed?

Did Joe have an extra car or a house in his back pocket to offer the man? No—but the innkeeper had shelter.

Did God not supply everything Joe needed to stabilize the man?

Did Joe steal the blessing from the owner of the inn?

Do we all have something to offer?

What if compassion and mercy are all we have?

(1) According to Google.
(2) According to the Holman Bible Dictionary.