The Good Samaritan.

The Bible tells us an extraordinary story about a man who was seriously beaten and left for dead in the street. Two religious men passed by this man without taking the time to help him because they didn’t want to be late for church. They believed it was more important for them to be on time for church and to be considered good religious people by the church members.

The Holy Scriptures declare that after the religious men passed, a Samaritan also took the road where the victim was. Unlike the religious men, the Samaritan stopped, took the victim, brought him to the hospital, and had him treated at his own expense. The Samaritan was willing to lose his time, energy, and finances to give life to his neighbor.

“A doctor of the law stood up and said to Jesus, to test Him: Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him: What is written in the law? What do you read there? He answered: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied; do this, and you will live. But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? Jesus took up the question and said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. 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. 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.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:25-37

This story shows us that we cannot claim to help others meaningfully if we are not ready to lose something. Helping others implies a transfer of goods from the person who helps to the person who benefits from the help. This means that whenever we decide to help someone, we agree to lose something in favor of that person. It is a voluntary act.

Many have accepted to lose in order to help us.

I regularly take the time to meditate on my past, my present, and my future. Whenever I do this exercise, a feeling of gratitude and appreciation always fills my heart because I realize how many people had to lose so that I could have the life I have today. I think of my parents who accepted to lose money, comfort, time, energy, and various opportunities just to take care of me.

I also think of all my brothers and sisters, as well as all the friends and acquaintances who have made significant contributions to my development. I know that none of them were obliged to transfer to me what they did. They all accepted to lose something in my favor. Realizing that many people have accepted to lose in my favor humbles me and makes me want to accept losing in my turn so that others can also benefit.

Death must work in us, and life in you In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explains that for the Christians of Corinth to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, he, Paul, had to accept giving his life. It was only by accepting to lose something valuable that the Apostle Paul could give them something of great value.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

This text clearly shows that we must accept to lose something if we want to help others. The value of the help we want to provide to others will always be proportional to the value of what we are willing to lose in their favor.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Just as Jesus and the Apostle Paul accepted to lose so that many might have life, let us also accept to lose certain advantages and favors in the interest of others. This is how we will be disciples of Christ…

This text is an excerpt from the book “ACCEPT TO LOSE TO SUCCEED BETTER” written by Dominique MBOG.

We invite you to read the following article “Accepting to Lose in Relationships with Others.”