The Good Samaritan Law

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” –James 4:17

I must confess that my favorite television series of all time is Seinfeld, although The Office is quickly catching up. In the very last episode of Seinfeld, Jerry finally lands a contract with NBC, so they offer to allow Seinfeld and his friends to use the corporate jet to fly anywhere. Well, on their flight, they have engine trouble and have to land in a small Massachusetts town. After they land, they decide to take a stroll around town. There on the town square, they see an overweight man being mugged. Instead of helping, they instead start laughing and making fun of the man. People see them laughing as the thief gets away, and the police arrest Jerry and his friends for breaking the town’s ‘Good Samaritan Law.’ In other words, if you can help someone and don’t, you are breaking the law. They are arrested, and at their trial, they bring several of the past season’s characters to testify against them in a humorous trial. Of course, they are found guilty and sent to the clink, where Jerry does stand up comedy for the inmates.

It is an absurd notion, isn’t it? Do you really think that we could be arrested for the things that we don’t do? Well, I’m sure a law like that would never stand in America. However, the Bible tells us that we are not just held accountable for the things that we do, but also for the opportunities that come our way to help others.

This verse is in the midst of a passage that talks about our own plans and how foolish they are compared to God’s will. It is here that we read James saying, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” It is an interesting notion, isn’t it? After we stop trying to control every aspect of our lives, we start to see that God has a bigger plan that includes others. And we just can’t say, “Nah, no thanks. Maybe later.” When we see people in need and don’t help, we sin.

I want to be careful here because I think that we could easily think that we must go overboard and spend every second out helping everyone that we possibly can and berating others who don’t. While God definitely puts people in our path, we could easily develop a ‘messiah complex,’ thinking that we are the only ones who can make a difference and wind up taking too much on our plates and burning out. That isn’t healthy either. Chances are, you and I don’t have that problem though.

Would you consider taking a look around you and observing whether or not you are doing the good that you should? How often have you diverted your plans in the last year to help someone in need? Maybe it’s family. Maybe it is someone you work with, or someone you don’t even know. Remember, sins aren’t just things that we do, they are also things that we know we should do, yet don’t.