There have been a couple of times in the past we missed services to help someone in need.  One such occasion happened to be on Christmas day.

While traveling to services we had to cross a river and while crossing my husband noticed there were tire marks in the road.  As it turned out, two young people had run off of the road, flipped the car and the two teenagers drown.  The believed the accident happened on Christmas Eve.  It was a very sad occasion for the parents and those who knew them.  At times during the year when I have to travel to the bank I will see a cross to commemorate their deaths.

Another occasion a young lady waved us down.  When we stopped to render aid, we found she had run off the road and hit a tree.  She was hurt.  We called authorities and rendered aid until they arrived.  It was raining and I placed an umbrella on top of her and a blanket as well.  She was sobbing and told us she had come from the hospital where her grandmother was very ill.  She told me no one would stop to help her.  I told her we did and would care for her until we knew she would be safe in the ambulance and then called her husband.

Two days later her husband called and thanked us for helping his wife.  On both of these occasions the priority at the moment was to render aid and comfort and to show God’s love to them.

What good is Christianity if we see one in need, but rush on by to get to services?   We become no better than the Levite and the priest who passed by on the other side when the man whom had been beaten, robbed and stripped of his clothing needed help.  Let us be as the Good Samaritan in Scripture.

Jesus and His disciples went through some corn fields on the Sabbath.  The disciples plucked some of the ears and this irritated the Pharisees.  Then these more-concerned-with-law-than-people Pharisees charged the disciples with violating the Sabbath.  But the very Lord of the Sabbath came to their defense, and thus gave the above passage.

The Sabbath law was made to bless man, but if a circumstance should arise whereby the keeping of it would produce the opposite effect, then its observance would counteract the very purpose for which it was given.  Jesus thought that in this case man’s welfare comes first.  This proves the Lord really, really loves man.  Man is very special to the heart of God. The wonders and benefits of nature, the laws in the Bible regulating man’s conduct, his relationship to each other and to God – all – are for the good of man.

Every law God ever gave was for the welfare of man.  He never gave a single commandment just to “boss” man but to bless man.  The highest motive prompted it.

Moreover, God’s laws have always applied equally to all people.  Even the law on tithing applied to all alike.  God never eased this requirement for some to put a heavier burden on others.  For laws to be fair they just treat everybody the same way.  Fairness is so important in legislation, and God is one to be copied.

Another point – man has passed thousands and thousands of laws, but he has never improved on the Ten Commandments.”      ~ Leroy Brownlow

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”     (I John 3:17)

“For I was an hungred, and ye gve me meat:  I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”       (Matthew 25:3-36)

Eileen Light