What About The Bad Guys?

As they all sat around on the floor rolling their trucks back and forth I sat in front of them telling the Bible story. It was the story of the Good Samaritan and how he came along and helped the poor man who had been beaten up and left lying on the dusty road. I talked about how kind this man was to help the man. I talked about how even as 3 and 4 year old little boys we can do things that are kind to help others. I explained that they may not be big and strong or rich but there are so many things but their little hands can hold the hand of somebody else, they can pick up toys, they can smile or wipe away someone's tears.

.

As the boys zoomed around on the floor I knew they were listening. Having a son of my own I understand the concept that if a boy is paying attention to you then he is fidgeting with something. As long as they fidget then I know they hear!

.

As the lesson ended everyone stood up and sat down at the table for snack time and we all talked and laughed and giggled and played around. Before I knew it Sunday School was over and it was off to church for the morning service.

.

My Sunday routine didn't change very much that afternoon and as I sat down in the sanctuary for evening service a mother approached me. Her son is in my Sunday School class and she wanted to tell me what her precious baby had said that day about our story. He was telling her about the Good Samaritan and the kind thing that he did but then this baby asked his Mom, "What about the robbers? Who helped them?"

.

Hmmmm...I never thought about that before. I've never sat and thought about what happened to the robbers. I've never wondered if they received salvation at some point in time later in their lives. I've never wondered if they found the man they robbed and asked for forgiveness. Funny how after hearing that story a million times it took a 4 year old to remind me what life is really all about.

.

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Who are you being kind to? Are you looking for the obvious or the hidden? Do you only have compassion for the beaten man or do you also have compassion for the robbers? Trust me, I'm seriously doing a gut check today!