“When you make men slaves you compel them to live with
you in a state of war.” Olaudah Equiano, “I Was Born a Slave”
I believe that on some level that we all have a responsibility
to help our neighbors, friends, family and acquaintances become
more enlightened. To not do so is in direct violation of our natural
human instinct to help those in need.
The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind, as I believe
Jesus sent Philip the Evangelist to save Samaria from her sins
because of the love that the Good Samaritan showed to a complete
stranger.
“25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and
tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law?
What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall
love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your strength, and
with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as
yourself.’”[b]
28 And He said to him, “You have answered
rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to
Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “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. 31 Now by chance a certain priest
came down that road. And when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite,
when he arrived at the place, came and looked,
and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.
And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 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 car e of
him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[c] 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.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was
neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
(Luke 10:25-37)
4 “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere
preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went
down to the[a] city of Samaria and preached
Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one
accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hear-
ing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For
unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came
out of many who were possessed; and many who
were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there
was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:4-8)
If we do not work to elevate the minds of the people we
see every day, we leave them in a state of bondage/slavery to
their rightful place among the angels. This helps to explain the
race, class and gender wars going on today in our country and
around the world.
Devin Oten
DO Enterprises
www.DevinOten.com
Writer, Public Speaker and Philanthropist
February 15, 2013