The Good Samaritan was the hero of a story Jesus told to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-37). The Samaritan found a man who had been beaten and robbed, lying half-dead beside the road. He provided first aid, transported him to safety, and paid for his care until he could get back on his feet. At the conclusion of the story, Jesus told his listeners to take the Samaritan as their example and to show similar kindness to strangers in need.
Many people are willing to help strangers in need today. My wife and I saw a young man crash his motor scooter on the highway while we were driving through town recently. Helpers surrounded him immediately. They mostly argued about how best to care for him until an ambulance arrived, but they came to his aid without hesitation. Their compassion was real, but rushing to the scene of an accident is not enough. Full-fledged Good Samaritans participate meaningfully in providing and paying for needed care.
Few people can pay for a poor man’s care until he is back on his feet today because the cost of modern medical care is so high. Many people cannot afford to pay for their own or their children’s’ care in the event of a serious accident or illness. The only way to provide the wonders of modern medical care to people who need it is to spread the risk among all of us neighbors. People in London invented insurance in the mid 17th century to cope with threats like the black plague and we still need insurance to care for neighbors in need today.
People who participate in insurance programs that provide them with comprehensive care in the event of accident or illness and who support making such insurance available to others are modern Good Samaritans. They make substantial investments of time and money in caring for people who need help through participation because they are sharing the risk like a good neighbor should.
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