When Jesus shared the story of the Good Samaritan, He was answering a legal expert’s question about the law that commanded them to love their neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus made the point that the neighbors we are to love are not just the ones who live adjacent to us, and, most importantly, not just the ones who are easy to love. Instead, Jesus calls us to love those whom we may be predisposed to consider an enemy.
There is more to discover here. Reflecting on the customs and culture of Jesus’s era, the story presents some very real examples of how the ancient world functioned. It was generally understood that travel was a dangerous proposition, as thieves would strike regularly and sometimes even disguise themselves as a victim of assault to catch someone off guard.
We also find three distinct philosophies about money.
A robber, a priest, and a Samaritan
The first philosophy is that of the robber: what’s yours is mine, and I am going to get it. Today, we may call that “looking out for number one” or “might is right” behavior. These individuals prioritize themselves above everyone else. They look to take from and take advantage of others—whether by force, cruelty, manipulation, or dishonesty—to serve their own ends.
If you know someone who buys in to this philosophy, you may observe how their actions are devoid of compassion or even mutuality. Instead, these individuals see a person in a less fortunate position as an easy mark to further line their own pockets.
The second philosophy is that of the priest and the Levite: what’s mine is mine, and I am going to keep it. These individuals keep a tight rein on their purse strings and have little compassion for others in less fortunate positions. While they have no interest in taking advantage of others to get ahead, they are not about to take the time to see if someone else is truly in need. After all, it could be a con. They distrust panhandlers and simply move to the other side of the road, never making eye contact.
If you know someone who buys in to this philosophy, you may observe how life is fairly transactional to them. Fairness and getting what they deserve could be their key priorities, and acts of kindness or generosity may often be employed simply to gain something in return.
The third philosophy is that of the Samaritan: what’s mine is yours, and I am willing to share it. Here we have an example of someone who truly understands generosity. Historically, Samaritans distrusted Jews because of many years of political tension. The Samaritan certainly did not plan on meeting the victim, but when he saw the man’s great need, he responded with decisive generosity, diverting his plans for the day to stop and care for the man’s wounds and see him safely to an inn.
And we actually see a second adherent to the third philosophy in this story—the innkeeper! He opened his inn and promised to care for the victim. He had no way of knowing if the Samaritan would actually return to cover additional expenses. The Samaritan was generous with his time and his cash, and the innkeeper was generous with his resources and his home. Individuals who adopt this philosophy understand that everything they own is a gift from the Lord—gifts they are responsible to steward wisely and temporarily.
If you know someone who buys into this philosophy, you may observe how others are drawn to the joy and abundance they live with. When faced with a need, rather than assuming it’s someone else’s problem, they may ask “What can I do to help here?”
Which one do you fall under?
Have you adopted one of these three philosophies? Philosophy one leads to little or no giving—think Scrooge before the visits of the three spirits.
Philosophy two can lead to joyless giving, done only to fulfill a promise, gain a tax deduction, or just make a problem go away.
Philosophy three recognizes God as owner of all and citizens of His Kingdom as stewards, caretakers, and trustees of our resources. Generosity is done with a joyful heart and a desire to honor God and serve others.
Once the young lawyer realized the truth about generously loving his neighbors, even those whom he might consider an enemy, Jesus commanded him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37 NIV). The Lord’s call to us remains the same.
