Our Daily Walk: Does Your Dog Bite?

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version available at http://tinyurl.com/2ea3n4

Apathy can be described as a lack of feeling or interest. In many ways it is simply not caring. Indifference is another word that is very similar to apathy. To be indifferent is not caring one way or another; being neither right nor wrong.

Both can find their way into our lives if we are not careful. Here is an example of how indifference can be dangerous.

An old story is told of a man who approached the proprietor of a local store. Next to the owner was a large dog. “Does your dog bite?” asked the man. “Nope,” said the owner. The man then reached down to pet the dog and the dog promptly bit him.

“I thought you said your dog doesn’t bite?” asked the man. “I did. But that’s not my dog!” replied the owner.

The owner in this story is totally indifferent to the welfare of the man. He willingly allowed this man to put himself in harm’s way with the dog. He could have done something to spare this man being bitten, but he chose not to. He was indifferent.

William Howard Taft once said, “Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them.” How true that is, and especially in our self-centered society.

Jesus illustrated indifference in the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:30-37.

“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. 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, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, 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.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

The priest and the Levite both could have done something to help this man. But they chose to go on the other side. They were indifferent toward his situation. Remember that part of the definition of indifferent said, “neither right nor wrong.” Most people would like for that to be the case. But, clearly some indifference is wrong, especially when good could have been done or evil avoided.

George Bernard Shaw said, “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of inhumanity.” And James writes in James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Who knows what kind of opportunities for good you may face today? You might be in a position to help an elderly neighbor unload her groceries, or help talk a friend out of thoughts of suicide. Your opportunity today may be relatively insignificant, or it may be very, very important.

Paul said in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith.” Indifference has no place in the Christian character. God wants us to do good whenever we have the chance.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we take the time to show genuine care and concern for others. May we always be interested in the health, safety, welfare and spiritual condition of those around us.

Our thought for the day: “Love will find a way—indifference will find an excuse.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.