‘Play it safe’ ideology is used to assess the risk and protect oneself from danger or undesired circumstances. However, the decisions based on this ideology can point more towards self-centered decisions. We often forget we are interdependent and exist in a community which is divided by ethnicity, race, religion, status, power, color, etc. Those factors that concerns us becomes our priority and the ‘us’ usually includes, self, family, relatives and to some extent friends. Unfortunately, today, even the “us” has been affected because of selfishness and greed for money.
There is an incident in the Bible where a lawyer meets Jesus with a question about eternal life and its qualifier. We notice in the conversation that Jesus summarizes all the laws into two greatest commandments which said, to love God with all heart, soul, strength and mind and then to love his neighbor as himself. Immediately the lawyer shoots another question asking, “who is my neighbor”? In response to this lawyerly attempt at self-justification. Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan, I want you to follow the parable: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite ( A Levite is a person who is a descendant of the Tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Bible, meaning they are considered to have a special religious role within Judaism, primarily serving as assistants to the priests in the Temple), when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan (the Samaritans are a religious group of people who practice Samaritanism, a faith similar to Judaism. They are primarily based in Israel), as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’”
After Jesus narrated the parable to the Lawyer Jesus asked, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” to which the lawyer said, “He who showed mercy on him.”. Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.’. When it comes to the matter of compassion, kindness and showing mercy, playing it safe is detestable to God. This Samaritan went out of the way to help someone who is battling for life. He spent his money, time and energy to take care of someone suffering. He did not play safe. In the book of Proverbs written by king Solomon found in the Bible he points out a moral and ethical standard about an important issue. He says, ‘Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Well, I am not referring to always look to do something serious. There are many who are suffering and battling with issues of life that are leading to frustration and despondency. In many cases though we know it, we want to walk like strangers forgetting God is noticing our heart and the intent of it. The. Bible says, ‘He weighs our heart’. We may play it safe, but it is displeasing to the Lord God. The love and kindness is a matter of heart that needs the Savior to transform our heart and make someone who is not just a good person but one who is not playing it safe.
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