In the story of the Good Samaritan, there is a fourth and final reason why the priest and Levite failed to help the man who was left to die on the Jericho road: They were afraid! In this situation, it makes sense that they would be scared. The sight of a man dying on the road is frightening. Frightening is the fact that he’s dying because he has been beaten up and robbed. What are those robbers now doing? That would be the next logical question. Does anyone know if they are still around? Let’s leave right now!  

We see fear as a sign that something can potentially ruin your life. The feeling of fear is so full of uncertainty. And yet “fear not” is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. Good works, success, and taking risks are all destroyed by fear. Fear can also disrupt our imagination. As a result, we see that these men missed out on the greatest opportunity of the day to impact and make a difference in someone’s life, but not the Samaritan. 

Friend, one unusual thought about the Samaritan was that he had all the same excuses as his predecessors, if not in greater abundance. Margaret Thatcher famously said, “No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money, too.” That’s an excellent observation. Oil is expensive, and so is the wine he poured over the man’s wounds. Gold and donkeys are also expensive, making the Samaritan  a target, but he didn’t let any of that stop him from helping. Don’t let wealth, self-importance, and hurry stand in your way. Just like the Samaritan, you and I can always choose not to let our excuses affect us!