Being a Good Samaritan

In his book, The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell describes a study conducted by two Princeton psychologists. Desiring to recreate the story of the Good Samaritan, they gave seminary students a questionnaire about why they wanted to be ministers. Then they arranged for each student to run into “a man slumped in an alley, head down, eyes closed, coughing and groaning.” The question was, who would stop to help him?

They thought that those committed to ministry might be inclined to stop. But, in fact, “the difference turned out to be the time that was available to help.” Of those students who were in a rush, only 10% stopped to help. Their faith proved less important than their schedules.

What made the difference? Whether or not they were busy! Of those who felt they had time to spare, 63% stopped.

How many of us are just like those busy students? We might think we love God and are concerned about others, but too often our lives are dominated by our schedules. We often are too busy to notice the needs all around us or to be used by God.

Today, ask God to open your eyes to the needs of people in your life. Don’t pass them by. Be ready to pray, to help, to give, and to demonstrate the love of God.