SLOW PACED FAVORS

Mike Johnson

Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.”

The verses make it clear that certain people deserve our assistance. Therefore, we should give help “to whom it is due.”

Also, we see it is essential not only to do good but to do good toward others in a timely fashion. Procrastination in the performance of good toward others may result in a kind act not taking place, or it may result in recipients unnecessarily suffering because they do not get the help in a reasonable time. The Greeks had an adage: “A slow-paced favor is a flavorless favor.”

In Luke 10:29-36, we read the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was beaten, robbed, and left half-dead in the story. A priest and a Levite saw him in that condition and passed by without assisting him. Next, a Samaritan passed by, and he immediately helped the beaten man. He helped him with both his time and his money. Of what value would it have been to the man on the side of the road if the Samaritan had said, “Maybe I’ll help this poor man on my way back”? The man could have been dead by then, and indeed his suffering would have continued.

Galatians 6:10 tells us, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” “Doing good” is broad in scope; it is an individual responsibility for each Christian. We can “do good” to others in many ways. For example, we can send cards to sick or grieving people and even bring them food if necessary. We can visit older people who are lonely and visit sick people in the hospital who might need encouragement. Also, we can provide rides to services for those who need them; we can give money to needy people or to a good cause; and we can encourage those who are spiritually weak. A list of “doing good” can go on and on. It seems, though, that one of the biggest obstacles we face in fulfilling this responsibility is procrastination. People often intend to help others, but they never seem to get around to it. The intent is there, but the “favors” are too slow in coming. Procrastination has been called “the grave in which we bury opportunities.”

In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus revealed what things would be like on Judgment Day. The King would say to those on the right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” The righteous will then ask Jesus when they had done these things for him. Jesus explained (V. 40), “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.“

  Those approved by Jesus did not merely think about doing these good deeds; they did not make soon forgotten plans. If they had, Jesus would have grouped them with the unrighteous in this chapter who will, at the Judgment Day, be cast into the lake of fire (V. 41).

Many are guilty of not helping others at all.  But as the verse in Proverbs tells us, when there is a legitimate need, we must not only help the person, but we must do so in a timely way.  Delay may result in an unnecessary extension of suffering or in a person not receiving any help at all. Just thinking about helping is not good enough.