By Glen Bowman, Kilgore at 3rd & Kilgore Church of Christ
In 1973, two Princeton University psychologists invited a group of seminary students to participate in a study. Each student was asked to prepare a short talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). When finished, each student was sent across campus, supposedly to film his speech for evaluation in a study on effective communication. Just as each participant left, the experimenter looked at his watch and said something like, “Oh, you’re late.”
In every instance, the student rushed out the door to get across campus, only to encounter a man slumped in an alley, head down, groaning, and coughing—an actor placed in the student’s path by the psychologists. One by one, these religious men, who had just read and prepared a lesson on the parable of the Good Samaritan, were put in a position to practice what they planned to preach.
The results were amazing. Only 10% of the participants stopped to help—and it gets worse. “Indeed, on several occasions, a seminary student going to give his talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan literally stepped over the victim as he hurried on his way.”
We all probably wonder how we would have reacted in the same situation. While none of us has the physical or emotional resources to meet every need we encounter, neither should we be blind and unfeeling toward those around us who are suffering. We can’t do everything, and doing good deeds is not the same thing as knowing Christ, but all of us who claim to know Christ should be doing something. Have you served your neighbors lately? If not, perhaps you should consider the following suggestions.
Be aware of the tyranny of time.
In the study cited above, the number of students who stopped to help increased to 65% when the participants were not told that they were late. This is not a great percentage, but it does illustrate how we can be distracted from the needs of others when we are in a hurry. Are you always in a rush? Then take extra care not to miss the opportunities for one-to-one service that God places in your path.
Try to notice people in the crowds.
Jesus ministered to individuals even when in a crowd of people. Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus, who called for Jesus from the edge of the crowd. Or the woman with the issue of blood—Jesus stopped in His tracks to engage her, knowing that she was full of faith but too embarrassed to entreat Him directly. Ask God to make you aware of needy individuals—the depressed man sitting alone at the back of the room, the child who looks frightened, or the woman with her head lowered, unable to make eye contact with anyone.
Do the unexpected.
Jesus didn’t allow the social norms of the day to dictate His behavior. His disciples were shocked to find Him talking with a Samaritan woman at the well at Sychar, and Jewish leaders criticized Him for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Don’t allow yourself to overlook someone who needs to hear the Gospel or needs your help just because they are different.
Go out with a loving mindset.
Don’t just wait for opportunities to demonstrate love—look for them. Ask God to point out someone who needs to hear the Gospel today, someone who needs encouragement, or someone you can help with a physical need. Expect that God will offer you opportunities to put Jesus’ words and example into practice every day and your vision for opportunities to serve will increase dramatically.
(Adapted from https://bulletininserts.org/how-to-go-and-do-likewise/)
