An Unexpected Friend

Once upon a time, an older man was making his way home through a park after a long day at work. Some teens mugged him, and injured him badly, and left him lying in a pool of blood. A pastor was driving down the same road on his way to a church building, he saw the bloodied man lying there. He looked at his watch and said, "I can't help this man. I'm already late for an elder's meeting." He had already been severely late the month before and there was indeed no way that he could stop and help the man now. Praying that God would forgive him, he crossed over to the left lane so that there was no chance that he would hit the man while also trying to alleviate his guilt and passed him by.

"A few minutes later, a youth minister was driving down the highway, and he was almost blinded by the sun reflecting off the man's white body. He was on his way to meet a group of teens that he was taking on a mission trip to Honduras. He told the beat-up man, "Sorry man, I would help you, but I'm doing some important work for God; plus, there would be a lot of mad teens and parents if I were late to the airport, but I'll be praying, for you, brother." So the youth minister prayed that God would forgive him as he crossed over to the left lane so that there was no chance that he would hit the man while also trying to alleviate his guilt and passed him by.

After that, a Christian college professor came by. He had studied theology, apologetics, and many other essential subjects, and he was now a famous professor at the local Bible College. His opinion and views were often sought on matters of importance. He looked at the injured man on the ground and said, "Whoever did this needs help. He must be from an underprivileged background and upbringing. Poor souls!" He also hurried home thinking about modern society and decided to write a paper on crime and poverty.

Now, a Muslim was driving down the highway, and he saw the man, who was now glowing red from the burning of the sun. His heart ached from seeing the man lying on the shoulder; therefore, he pulled over. He took out a first aid kit and a blanket from his trunk and aided the man, wiping away the blood, disinfecting and bandaging his cuts, and wrapping his naked body in the blanket. The Muslim then carried the man to his car and laid him in the passenger's seat. Bloodstains were leaking onto his chair and floorboard as the Muslim took the man to a hospital. The Muslim then helped the man be admitted and stayed in his room that night as a companion. In the morning, the Muslim asked the man's nurse to take good care of him as he healed before he paid the hospital for the man's stay and told them that if there were any extra fees, that he would pay them when he came back.

The moral of the story is to show love and mercy towards others. Treat others with Respect. Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Israel's covenant with God included a social structure that destroyed social divisions and helped less fortunate people. In short, it made orphans and widows’ part of Israel's extended family. The "love your neighbor as yourself." is a cornerstone in both the Old and New Testament. It is such a simple concept, but many times we miss it. We miss all the opportunities to help someone in our daily lives. Maybe it is helping your grandma pack all of her stuff. Or perhaps it is as simple as encouraging someone to keep doing their homework. Either way, I want to encourage you to start looking for ways to help your neighbor.

(Original Illustration on https://lestark1.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/the-good-muslim/)