When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn, Prov 29:2.
In framing policies, individuals or political office holders should not rely on AI (artificial intelligence); for it is based on sciences and therefore it is not without ‘blemish’. On the other hand, laws or policies ought to be benevolent, and based on sound moral principles.
The man in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) was ‘robbed’ of the necessities of life. He was journeying from a particular location to some place: he may have taken up an opportunity to seek something that he needed, but he fell among thieves who robbed him, stripped him naked, and left him half dead. This may refer to those who do not have raiments, a place to lay their heads, or food; because they have been ‘robbed’ by the enemy.
Importantly, in the parable also the helper was travelling the same route as the wounded – whether by happenstance or as a duty, it was not revealed. But what is important is that he found the wounded along the way. Hence, do we only need to help those who travel the same route as us? Or do we need to go and find them along the ‘way’? Our policies must target those who are the brethren – who travel the same ‘narrow’ way as us – and those who are not the brethren, but are in dire need of help too.
In truth also, the policies we make must allow helpers and help go directly to the needy and instantly too, without being distracted. So, unnecessary meddlesomeness by middlemen should be discouraged: the helper in the parable went directly to the person in need, and offered the needed help instantly.
Also, the helper was not a priest, nor a Levite, but was perhaps an ordinary man. So the man who wants to make good policies about ‘helping’ others, need not to have an excellent religious dossier. He should not be interested in worldly things that profile the origin, gender, or status of the person or the people he intends to help. Have government policies among the nations met those benchmarks? Has any politician made laws or policies that indiscriminately show generosity to all in need irrespective of race, gender, or origin?
The Samaritan man saw the wounded, and had compassion on him. Compassion helps us make a difference. And of some have compassion, making a difference, Jude 1:22.
It was not known whether the helper was a physician, but he bound up the wounds of the wounded and took care of him. So in formulating policies, we ought to be compassionate and also make a difference. At the crucial time of need, we should be ready to make sacrifices: leaving businesses, work, or other endeavours in order to render the help and do the good works – the Samaritan gave help at the needed time, leaving other engagements.
Equally, the Samaritan man was not irritated by the wounds of the robbed man; but gave his own beast and took care of him. So we should be willing to give help to the needy with our possessions and also be willing to pay their debts and give more, as led.
In formulating policies as individuals or organizations, we must eschew corruption. The parable of the Good Samaritan provides us with a clear direction and a worthy instruction on how to help those in need, as well as teaches us how to be a ‘neighbour’ who is helpful but not harmful: knowing truly that love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law, (Rom 13:10).