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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language 54

Topic: The Good Samaritan

Series: The Muppet Show, Digimon

Episodes: 114--Sandy Duncan (The Muppet Show), The Eighth Child Revealed (Digimon)

Lesson PDF link: 54.pdf

Introduction

Who do you think would be defined or qualify as a needy person?

My answer to this question is that a needy person lacks something that he/she doesn't have that could be considered a bare life necessity, meaning food, water, shelter etc. I would also define this kind of person as lacking equipment needed for helping with disabilities, support with problems and the like. This definition can also include a person who lacks finances for daily living, ministry and other work-such as employment. There are other types of needs that aren't listed here. In this lesson we are going to look at helping the needy in a godly fashion, although some of needs listed here aren't covered exactly. We are going to show a kind of compare and contrast lesson and we will have a discussion and Bible study.

Clip from "The Muppet Show: 114--Sandy Duncan":

"The Muppet Show: 114--Sandy Duncan": Direct link for video/webmUsing IE? Video not working? Download Windows HTML 5(WebM) video support: WebMProject.org

What did you see in the clip?

Gonzo and Ralph in this song are portraying a wrong attitude if I ever saw one. Why? Gonzo doesn't get very many favors done for him by anyone evidently. We don't know why no one helps him when he is down or broke. However, this shows paying back evil for evil, even if he would be truly needy of such courtesy or favors and didn't get them; this is especially true if the need denied by Gonzo would be bare life necessity ones. Gonzo obviously has no time for people because he isn't getting any favors or what he would consider needs. Gonzo says he hasn't mistreated anyone as a normal interpretation goes; he says "I ain't done nothin' to nobody". Perhaps he feels he has no friends, so why be a friend. After all, no one helps his sadness or loneliness when he needs a friend. No one feeds him when he is cold or hungry, no one listens when he has a bad day, or compliments him on his looks. Gonzo has no one at home like a family to greet much less kiss him, like a wife, which adds to his emptiness. Because he doesn't get his needs met, he has no time for others, no one seems to care according this song. The Bible however disagrees with his attitude of being soured on people. If Gonzo would look at the scriptures, he would find that he shouldn't and mustn't act this way regardless because it is considered mistreatment to not help the needy as he very well is if the song would be correct.

Clip # 2 From "The Eighth Child Revealed" (Digimon):

Digimon: "The Eighth Child Revealed": Direct link for video/webm

What did you see in these clips?

You might remember this clip from the lesson on depression if you have seen that one. We are using this clip in a shortened form because it fits this topic nice and snug.

Clip # 3 From "The Eighth Child Revealed" (Digimon):

Digimon: "The Eighth Child Revealed": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip?

Gatomon does exactly the opposite of Gonzo even though she has been mistreated harshly by her enemy and no one ever seemingly helped her with her needs. Gatomon helps Wizardmon and finds her best friend and partner in the character named Kari who is good and kind. This makes life much less bitter and her pain starts to heal.

Bible Study

Now we will look at some Biblical scriptures to help us to understand. These scriptures are classics to many people and this ministry along with probably many others.

The Bible States In Luke 10: 25-37:

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27 He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Gonzo with his attitude will probably not help the needy, but Gatomon (who was supposed to be evil in the clips that she was in) did help the needy. In the parable of The Good Samaritan, the man mentioned was robbed which is not uncommon even now in our time. The first two are anointed ones of God who didn't have moral sense, they were thinking more about being unclean ceremonially than being right. Traditionally speaking, the Samaritan shouldn't have even stopped in the culture of the day because the Samaritans were considered unclean anyway according to the Jews. and the Jews didn't like them because Samaritans were also considered half-breeds to the Jews. As far as I understand the Samaritans didn't customarily like Jews normally because the Jewish people didn't like them because of the above stated cultural reasoning. They were raised to hate because they were hated. This is known as racism today on both sides. So, one might wonder as a Samaritan "Why should I stop to help?"

The Bible States In James 1: 26-27

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

So, God's idea is that helping the needy like orphans and widows has to be built into the code of conduct for anyone who considers themselves religious and might I add is a necessity in the Christian walk.

There is even more reason to understand helping the needy is extremely important.

The Bible States In Matthew 25: 31-46

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

I know that the above scripture is a true classic, but it really hits home. Not only is helping the needy acceptable to God, it is a definite requirement of salvation in Christ. This can be scary especially if you just look at the portion of scripture about the unrighteous, but the truly saved will have this built in because of Jesus being literally in control or if this isn't totally there, it is coming shortly in the fresh Christian person.

The Bible States In James 2: 14-26:

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend.

24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

So, if we are believers in Jesus Christ we should and must act like it. Regardless if we get any help or not from people, we cannot get tired of helping the needs of a person no matter the culture or other stereotypes especially. This is true even if the needy person is perceived an enemy. This is true even if the giver can be possibly taken advantage of which has happened a lot with me personally.

The Bible States In Proverbs 25: 21-22, Romans 12: 14-21, 2 Thessalonians 3: 13:

Proverbs 25: 21-22

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Romans: 12: 14-21:

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Thessalonians 3: 13:

13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

What have we learned?

We must practice our faith in Jesus Christ and do His will. Sooner or later, you will be put in the right place at the right time to help someone in need and you need to be willing to take the opportunity to serve this way and as the adage says "Step up to the plate". There are plenty of ways to help any needy, hungry etc., but God will tell His listeners how to serve for His kingdom the best based on how He wants. This means we cannot be selfish with our resources or time. We don't want to be like Gonzo and Ralph's song. We need to be more like Gatomon even if no one has time to help us. And the real trick is to not expect anything as repayment. If repayment happens then great, but if not, you still practiced the faith in Jesus Christ that saves. Helping the needy when opportunity knocks may even change your life for the better. In fact, I guarantee it, because you don't get away from being affected by your deeds.