God Made Me to Help Others

by Desi Ash

There are times when I hate being a black female. The majority of those times are when I see someone stranded and in need of assistance. Just the other day as I was driving through a random neighborhood to cut down on my drive time, I passed an older couple struggle to make it home with their groceries. 

Everything in me wanted to pull over and load them and their groceries in my car and drive them the rest of the way home. But for my safety (and theirs- they both were wearing oxygen and suffering from either old age or medical problem) I wasn’t able to offer my help. 

Does it make me a bad person? No. 

Does it make me feel guilty? Yes.

Sometimes when I experience these situations I feel like the Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10.

29  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

I’m sure you can relate. We all pass opportunities when we are able to reach out and lend a helping hand.

Which is why it’s important to remember when Jesus says:

 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Mathew 25)

That homeless person begging for food by Walmart represents Jesus. That struggling to make ends up mom who can’t clothe her children, represents Jesus. The older couple walking home with their groceries, they represent Jesus.

Let’s challenge ourselves to take a second and remember who they represent instead of judging their situations. I believe when we are able to see Jesus in other people, we are more likely to reach out and lend a helping hand.