God And The Good Samaritan

@gewcew23 (8007)
United States
March 3, 2010 2:03pm CST
Luke 10: 30-37 tell us about this man who was beaten up and left for dead. Two men, a priest and a Levite walked right pass him but a Samaritan took care of help. How this is interpreted is if you have the ability to help someone in need it is your duty to do so. What does God do though? I have limited resources but God is all powerful. We read in the Old Testament that he feed the children of Israel manna from Heaven, why can he not feed the starving children in Africa with manna? Think about the witness that would be, showing people how much God loves them by feeding the starving children around the world. God does not do this, even though he has the power to do so, he leaves that duty to us. I am not trying to blame God for all the suffering around the world but I am comparing him to the Priest and the Levite. The Priest and the Levite had the power to help and so did God but they left the responsibility to the Samaritan and us.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Lochrin (74)
• Australia
4 Mar 10
Why doesn't it rain every day between 6 and 7pm. Just for that hour. So we can plan around it happening? Why aren't all the poor/homeless blessed with an endless jar of oil? (2 kings 4) Why is there war at all? (re the iraq reply) Why aren't the blasphemers and haters silenced, unable to speak untill they witness that God is real? God is a mystery. We can't even begin to fathom his ways. The question is valid.. but no human has the answer.
2 people like this
• India
4 Mar 10
This is a matter of choice. God helped the people in israel. I just think any good person willing to help the masses would be reffered to as god. once i saw a documentary and a poor child was asked if there was god in front of him and he was to ask anything in the whole world for himself what would he as k... the hild replied " I would like to ask god for one course of meal for my family" the point here is that the child was contend with god giving him just food for one day... cant any one of us become god to him.. just htink about it you can help someone out in poverty and become god to him.... God is just a god smartian who has the power to help.
2 people like this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
5 Mar 10
Mmmmmm. The Samritans and the Jews were battling factions; both claiming to be the true children of Isreal. My understanding of the parable has always been that it was a tale of prejudice and misunderstanding of other peoples. The story was told after someone asked Christ who his neighbor is. The point, from my understanding, is that we must take each person at face value and not presume anything due to nationality, social status, race, etc. It was a Jewish man who was beaten and robbed. It could have been presumed that the Levite, at least, would have stopped to help, but no. It was a Samaritan, the enemy of the Jews. Your neighbor is anyone who treats you as a neighbor; anyone who loves you as they love themselves. Likewise, we should strive to be a good neighbor to all.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
3 Mar 10
Hi gewcew, The story of the Good Samaritan, is one that shows us that we must always have compassion, regardless of who that person is. It also tells us that compassion doesn't always come from the people that we expect. Th Priest and the Levite, were those that would be expected to help, but their religion was only fake, they only cared about what others thought about them, and there was no one here to watch, so they went on their way thinking the man would probably die anyway. Samaritans were despised by the Jews yet, it was such a person who showed compassion. Many people's religion is like that, they like for people to see them go to church or quote the Bible, but when it comes to doing what Jesus would do, they cross the street and ignore the person in need. Often those who do the most to help others are never recognized and don't want to be. Instead of going to third world countries with Bibles, lets take them things that they really need. They have their own culture and religion, lets respect that. Regardless of what people say, God has always depended on us, we are his hands and feet. I don't think that manna ever came down from heaven, that's not the way God works. Remember, just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean it's true, much has been added and more has been changed. We do not and may never understand that which we call God, while living on earth but we know from such people as Jesus and others that he wants us to show love and compastssion.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
4 Mar 10
When God fed the children of Isreal, there was no way of instantly helping other people. These days we have the ability and the brains to give aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters, yet we let corrupt warlords take most of the aid and totally ignore genocide and starvation in other areas. It is not God's fault, but ours. He gave us brains to use, to create ways of worldwide travel and communication but we use them for political purposes and greed instead of what He intended us to use them for. Do not blame God. The fault is ours. We have the means but we refuse to use them compassionately and apolitically.
1 person likes this
• India
5 Mar 10
To understand the passage you mentioned, please read Luke 10: 38-42 as well. “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” It means being at the feet of the Lord is better than doing good deeds.