Maggie Thatcher and the Good Samaritan

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions - he had money too.” Margaret Thatcher

Maggie Thatcher Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Iron Lady, the Best Man in Britain, the only leader in history to bring a country back from beyond a 150% Debt/GDP ratio without an economic collapse, a revolution, or a civil war is obviously one of my heroes. She even rates a verse in the Royal Navy’s version of the Drunken Sailor sea shanty.

I put Maggie’s rather famous quote concerning the Good Samaritan up on my Facebook page last week. It received both positive and negative attention that got me to thinking more deeply about the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

You know the story: A good believing Jew was beaten and robbed out in the wilderness. After a pastor and a lawyer (Warning: My Version) pass by this poor unfortunate crime victim without even calling 911 on their cell phone, a half breed heretic from the sticks stops to help. He breaks out his first aid kit and spends the time and effort required to stabilize his patient. Then the Samaritan loads the Jew onto his donkey (remember that means the Samaritan walks) and carries him to a decent hotel. The Good Samaritan peels a $1,000 off his roll and gives it to the innkeeper, telling him to take care of this stranger until he returns from his business trip. The Samaritan adds, “If you spend more than this before I get back, I’ve got you covered.” Then the Samaritan continues on his business trip.

I contend that the Samaritan demonstrated at least three of the four levels of giving and almost certainly the fourth level of giving.

1) He gave his own money for the care of a stranger, both the cost of the medications and the cost of the hotel.
2) He gave of his time to bind up the stranger’s wounds and carry him slowly and carefully to the inn. Remember, a business man’s time is more valuable than money. He has plenty of money but he doesn’t have enough time.
3) He gave of his emotional energy. I don’t think it would be possible to care for a half dead, horribly beaten stranger without some expenditure of emotional energy. At this point in time, surplus emotional energy is a scarce commodity in my life. I believe it is more valuable than time or money.
4) Since I can’t see into the Samaritan’s heart, I have to guess here, but I believe the Samaritan offered the stranger the precious Gift of the Open Heart, the highest level of giving. The Samaritan and his family have been victims of racial discrimination at the hands of the Jews, yet his compassion transcends centuries of hatred and racism.

There is one more thing I want to add about the Samaritan and his character. Yes, the dude had good intentions and he had money, plenty of money, but there is something more going on in the story. The innkeeper didn’t bat an eye when the Samaritan dumped a half dead naked stranger into one of his beds with the words, “If you spend more than this before I get back, I’ve got you covered.” The Samaritan had a reputation. His word was as good as his gold. There are famous rich men in this very area that I would not trust without all the money up front and a good contract attorney covering my back. The innkeeper didn’t need to negotiate a deal or even shake hands with the Samaritan. He knew that the man had both the means and the integrity to fulfill his promise.

Then said Jesus unto me, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

Luke 10

[25] And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
[26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
[27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
[28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
[29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
[30] And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
[31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
[32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
[33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
[34] And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
[35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
[36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
[37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.