After telling the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said that we should think of all people we meet as neighbors and do what we can to help them when they are in need.

I generally take this responsibility seriously, but sometimes I fail—as I did recently while vacationing in Arizona. In front of a fast-food restaurant, a young man asked me to help him. He and his wife were about 300 miles from home and had used up their cash to fix their car radiator. They had no checkbook or credit card.

I politely said I had no money to spare. I was being honest because 2 days earlier I had spent $200 for a water pump and was running low on funds. I did have my checkbook and a credit card, so I could have given him a little money and told him about Christ’s love for him—but I didn’t.

I try to soothe my conscience by telling myself I can’t help everybody, or that this man shouldn’t have left home with so little money, but I know I am rationalizing. We must be discerning when giving people money, but in this case I believe I missed a chance to help someone. And this bothers me.

Lord, help us every day to be alert for opportunities to be a good neighbor.

  — Herbert Vander Lugt