The story of the Good Samaritan offers unfailing inspiration and challenge.
Of the three persons who encountered the victim in the story, the person who responded to the need was the one least required to do so, or the one on whom the victim had the least claim. But on the other hand the Samaritan seems to have been the best equipped to do so. He was apparently a seasoned traveller, equipped with the essentials for emergencies like this, familiar with finding lodging in unfamiliar situations and, above all, with transportation. Hardly anything more is required to meet this emergency, except of course the willingess to get involved. What was done is a good example of holistic healing. It included: approptriate medical care, companionship, caring, finacial assitance and even offer of followup.
It would seem that in Christ's kingdom, the only valid considerations for helpfulness are one person's need and the other person's resources. The normal ideas of social relationships, neighbourliness and mutual obligations do not apply. This of course means that as long as you have something which another needs, any one, lietrally any one, in need has a claim on it. As someone said, in Christ's kingdom, He is at the centre but there is no limit to the cirumference; indeed there is no circumference.
What an inclusive kingdom, in these days of culture wars, ethnic cleansing, exclusive neighbourhoods.
P.Zach