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The Cost of Compassion

Most of us know the story of the Good Samaritan. We know the characters, we know what happens, and we know the lesson we are supposed to take away from it. But knowing the story and living it are two very different things. In Luke 10, Jesus shows us that true compassion is more than sympathy, good intentions, or simply noticing that someone is hurting. Compassion moves us to act. It interrupts our plans, asks us to give of our time and resources, and sometimes requires us to step into situations that are inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly. The priest and the Levite both saw the wounded man and passed by. The Samaritan saw him and chose to get involved. He stopped, cared for his wounds, changed his plans, spent his own money, and took responsibility for someone who could offer him nothing in return.

The challenge of the Good Samaritan is not simply to admire his compassion, but to follow Christ’s command: “Go, and do thou likewise.”