Today I read Luke 10, which is the chapter where the Savior calls and sets apart the 70 and sends them out to preach and to teach in His name. When they return, they are surpised that the devils are subject to them when they use the Saviors name and Jesus also gives His famous go without purse or script speech to His disciples.
This chapter also contains the story of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary and how Mary sat at the feet of the Savior listening while He spoke while Martha did the house work. Martha was so busy and doing so much, that she became resentful of the fact that Mary was entertaining their guest and the scriptures record that she spoke to Jesus asking Him to order Mary to help her. Jesus gently replied that while what Martha was doing is important, Mary is doing something even more important. Now, I have been on both sides of this scenario where I am the host and am running around like mad trying to make sure everything is good and works the way I had intended, and I have also been the person entertaining the guests while someone else plays the part of the host or hostess. It is true that both parts are equally important, but what Jesus was trying to teach Martha, is that He was not going to be around forever, and He is not just another guest, what He has to say is more important than anything else in the world, So while Martha was doing something good by being a good hostess, it would have been better for her if she had sat with Mary and Jesus and heard what He had to say. I think a more apt comparison would have been say doing your home or visiting teaching during General Conference. Both are important, but it is more important to hear the instructions from our Prophet and Apostles.
This chapter also contains the story of the Good Samaritan. I think everyone is familiar with the story, a man traveling is beaten and robbed and left for dead. A priest and a Levite both walk on by without stopping to help the man. Finally a Samaritan, who does not like the Jews mind you, stops and helps the poor man and even pays an innkeeper to take care of him until he recovers. The real world application for this story are plentiful and just about everywhere you look. A family stranded on the side of the road, someone pushing a car that has broken down, a person carrying in groceries while trying to wrangle small children, the list goes on and on. This story goes back to the very beginning of time when Cain is asked by God where Abel is and asks if he is his brothers keeper. The answer of course is a resounding, YES, you are. I firmly believe that we will be held accountable for all those people that are put in our way that we may have helped but did not for whatever reason. I do believe this includes those who come up to you and ask you for money despite smelling of alcohol and cigarettes. It is not for us to judge what put the person in that state, it is only for us to help and assist in whatever way we can.
I think that this lesson has been well learned in most of the United States. Despite whatever else might be happening in the country, you still often hear, or even see reports of people assisting others in a very selfless manner. Just the other day there was a headline story of an 8 year old boy at a baseball game who caught a foul ball because another young boy missed it and it bounced behind him and the 8 year old caught it. Naturally the first boy who missed it started to get upset and when the 8 year old saw it, he immediately walked over to the boy and handed over the foul ball. While I was pleased to see such a wonderful story of a young boy doing such a good thing, I was even more pleased to see all the attention it was given in the news. You generally don't hear good things in the news. And the stories are there, our news anchors and news stations just seem to prefer the bad news, I guess it gets better ratings, I don't know. But there are good stories out there if you look for them.
But more importantly than looking for examples of being a good Samaritan is to be one. We should be helping those around us in whatever way we can. You don't know what someone else is going through, sometimes, the simple act of holding open a door for someone else can be what changes their day from a bad one to a good one. But as I said before, I firmly believe God will ask us why we did not help the person He specifically put in our way. And most of the time it takes so little time and effort to help those in need. All we need to do is slow down our lives and take a good look around us and we will see the needs and be able to help with them. And it always feels SO good to help those in need. It's one of the best feelings out there, don't pass it up. Until tomorrow.
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