The parable of The Good Samaritan can be found in Luke chapter 10 in the New Testament in the Bible. It is the story of a man on his way to Jerico. Along the way, he was set upon by robbers. He was robbed and beaten and left for dead. Several people passed the poor injured soul. A priest and a Levite passed the man and did nothing. A Samaritan came along and saw the injured man. He dressed the man’s wounds, gave him water, took him to a safe place to recover, and paid for his treatment.
What can we learn from this sad tale? A simple kindness can go a long way. The Samaritan didn’t have to stop and help the injured man. Perhaps the Samaritan was in a rush and was low and supplies. He still took the time out of his day to care for another’s needs.
The priest and the Levite didn’t even take a second glance at the dying man. In ancient Jerusalem, priests were held in high regard. Levites were a chosen few, their character was above reproach. Priest and Levites worked together in holy temple to ensure that the blessings of God followed unto the people. So why would holy men leave someone to died?
For our purposes, the priest and Levite can represent governments or charity organizations. Those individuals tasked with helping during a disaster situation. For whatever reason, they were unable or unwilling to help. You might be self-reliant and help yourself and those in your community.
Store extra food, water, and other supplies to help those less able to help themselves in your community. Samaritans were thought of as a lesser population in the ancient world. They weren’t anything important or special, they were just regular folk. The Good Samaritan was just a regular man on his merry way but he saw a need and stopped to help. You can do the same with those around you. You can help tend to a wound with your first-aid kit, give water from your storage, and provide a safe place to sleep with extra blankets or sleeping bags.
Donate what you can to your local food banks. There are always people in need even if there isn’t a disaster. When disaster strikes, be aware of who needs help in your community. Work together to set up a medical center in order to quickly and efficiently treat wounds. Create a group kitchen to make sure everyone is fed. Pull out tents and sleeping bags to camp in backyards or garages. Ideally, others in your area will have prepared as well. Joining your resources together might give everyone access to things they didn’t have themselves. Store enough supplies for your family and then some, the more you have the more you can share or barter with.
