Last night, as I pulled into my subdivision after work, I noticed a couple of guys attempting to change a flat tire.

I walked inside my house and sat down. My husband asked me about my day and then proceeded to ask if I had seen a couple of kids on our street trying to change a flat tire.

“Um, kids? I saw two guys. I think they are in their early twenties.”

Apparently, the two young men had been struggling with that flat tire for a couple of hours. My husband had already offered to help (and even offered our tools).

He couldn’t believe they were still there. “What if those were our boys out there?” he said.

So off he and my younger son went… down the street, with more tools & a flashlight in hand.

In Luke 10:30-35, Jesus tells a story I bet you are familiar with. It’s the story of the Good Samaritan. In case you forgot the details, allow me to give you a quick recap.

A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On his way, robbers attacked him, took his clothes, beat him up, and left him half-dead.

Luckily, (not really) a priest was on his way down the same road. He saw the wounded man, but kept walking. Then another “religious” man, (a Levite), passed by the injured man, but he also kept walking. Finally, a Samaritan man passed by and saw what the other two men saw, but “his heart went out to him.” (MSG)

So he stopped and helped. The Samaritan bandaged the injured man’s wounds, lifted the man onto his donkey, and took him to an inn. He even took care of his expenses.

Most likely, the first two men knew the Torah inside and out. Perhaps they were on their way to the temple to “do ministry,” or maybe they were on their way home to write a post about the importance of “doing ministry.”

They had plenty of “head knowledge” regarding the things of God…but did they have the “heart knowledge?”

You see, God is funny…when I asked Him earlier in the week what I should write about, He put the story of the Good Samaritan on my heart. I’ve been reading and studying this story ALL WEEK LONG.

But in all honesty, I didn’t think twice when I saw these young men, in my neighborhood, struggling. Sure, I’m a girl & it was dark…but I am ashamed to say, not even a thought to offer assistance (or even a bottle of water) crossed my mind.

By the way, in case you are wondering, my husband & son returned home TWO HOURS LATER. (As it turns out, it was a bit more complicated than a simple flat tire)

My son filled me in.

He said it was fun. They worked on the tire together, they chatted, laughed & even got to know one another. My husband inquired as to the whereabouts of their families. One of the boys sighed, paused, then hesitantly told my husband that his father was in jail. Before driving off, the other young man quietly told my son, “Your dad is a good man.”

It’s funny, I saw two guys that night… and didn’t think twice. My husband saw two kids that night…but saw them as our kids.

Ministry. Like the Good Samaritan, it may involve your time, it may involve your resources, but it should always involve your heart.

-Binu