The Tortoise and the Man
No doubt you know the story of the tortoise and the hare. Let me tell you a story of the tortoise and a man. My friend John suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and other maladies. Nevertheless, he still manages to get around with a cane. On an errand in his car recently he saw a turtle trying to cross a busy boulevard. “That turtle will get run over before he gets across this busy street,” he thought. So, he stopped his car and with much effort got out to help the turtle cross the road.
He is unable to bend over and pick it up, so he planned to prod it along with his foot. Meanwhile, he would have to make his way back to the side of the road to let cars pass. He realized if he fell, he couldn’t get back up; but he started out. While he was trying to help, the ungrateful reptile beat him across the street.
My friend John related the story to us himself, so I’m not poking fun at his difficulty. However, just as there is a moral in the fable about the tortoise and the hare, there is also a moral here---it is seldom possible to help someone else without putting yourself at risk.
When the widow of Zarephath fed the prophet Elijah, she used the last of her wheat and oil. It meant she and her son might starve. Thereafter, as you recall, there was always a little wheat in the barrel and a little oil in the cruse. (I Kings 17)
When Jonathan protected David from the anger of his father King Saul, he risked harm from his father and possibly his succession to the throne of Israel. His friendship with David contributed to Jonathan’s death in battle. (I Samuel 18 ff)
When God’s Son Jesus came to earth, He left heaven with all its glory and became a poor person on earth. Jesus risked everything to help humanity. In fact, Jesus’ journey to earth cost Him great suffering and even His life. He risked it all to help us.
The Bible teaches us to help others in Jesus’ name. Then, faithful to its commitment to the whole truth, the Bible goes on to show us that helping others can be personally costly. Maybe that’s why we are sometimes reluctant to help.
