once while Jesus was preaching
a man decided to test how good a teacher Jesus was
Jesus I have a question for you
can you tell me what it is I should do so that I can live eternally in heaven?
Jesus looked at him with a quiet smile for some time and then replied
do you read the Bible?
of course I do what kind of a question is that?
so if you read the Bible can you tell me what the bible says
the bible says that I should love God with my heart and soul
and that I should love my neighbour as I love myself
well then there you have your answer
but I don't understand is who my neighbour is supposed to be
whom I should love as I love myself?
Jesus was quiet for a few moments and then replied
the answer to that question is not so simple
let me explain it to you in a different way
and this is the story Jesus related to the man for the answer he was seeking
a Jewish man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho
there were many small hills around the road he was walking with many rocks lying there
it was a lovely sunny day
and the man was softly singing to himself as he walked along
suddenly as he was passing a small hill
some man came running out from behind the hill and charged at him
they took away everything that the man had even tearing away his clothes
the evil robbers beat up the poor man mercilessly
he was bleeding badly
but they just kicked him even more and left him by the roadside
soon after a priest came walking down the road
when he saw the bleeding man he thought to himself
I wonder who that fellow lying there is
I don't know what has happened to him
but I am already very late
I do not have the time to stop and help him
I'm sure someone else will come and do something
it was dead to me already anyway
the priest just crossed the road and continued walking without a backward glance
a little while later a Levite
a man whose job was to help priests in their work
happened to pass down the same Road
he too saw the beaten and bleeding man lying there
he stopped for a moment and slowly made his way up to the man
I cannot make out if this fellow is dead or alive
even if he is alive
I doubt he will be alive for long the way he is bleeding
I don't think I can help him in any way I better be going along on my way
the levite too left the injured man
without even trying to help them and walked away hurriedly
after about an hour too later
a Samaritan was walking down the same road with his donkey
as soon as he saw the man lying on the road he ran up to him
now the Jews were known to dislike the Samaritans and treat them very badly
however this Samaritan did not even stop to think of all this
he just saw bruised human being needing help very badly
and because of his compassionate nature
went forward to try and do what he could
Oh what has happened who has done this to you?
the man opened his eyes and tried to talk
but winced in pain when he tried to do it
you poor man I can see you are in a lot of pain
don't try and talk now here let me have a look at your wounds
hmm they look quite bad
don't you worry now I will try my best to see that you are comfortable and get well soon
the Samaritan went to his donkey and came back with a bag containing some oils and wine
he then proceeded to apply them on the man's wounds
so that they would heal
when the man saw what the Samaritan was doing
he made a feeble attempt to stop him
no no too expensive
why are you looking at the cost of some oil and wine my good fellow
at this moment it is your injuries that matter not money
now just relax and let me apply these to your wounds
I am sure they will give you some relief
the Good Samaritan very carefully applied the oil and wine to the injured man's wounds
and put on some bandages also to prevent them from getting infected
ah now the that is done
let us get you to some end where you can rest and recover
very gently the Samaritan helped the man up on to his donkey
and started leading him to the inn
after walking for a few hours they reached a small town
where the Samaritan asked for directions to the nearest Inn
there we have arrived
now just wait here for a few minutes
while I talk to the man in charge about getting a room for you
no money
I have told you not to worry about that
I just want you to get well soon
the Samaritan went inside the inn
and found the man who is in charge
my good man I have outside a man who is badly injured
I would be grateful if you could give him a comfortable room where he can recover
here I am leaving with you some money for his room as well as his food
please take good care of him
and let him live here till he is recovered enough to go on his way
the inn owner assured him that the man will be taken care of him
the Samaritan then went outside
helped the man down from the donkey
and accompanied him to the room in the inn
well my friend it is time for me to leave
I have taken care of everything you just rest and get well
don't know how to thank you
you don't have to thank me
I have just done what the good Lord would have wanted me to do
when the story ended Jesus looked at the man who had questioned him
now can you tell me who you think would be your neighbour
the priest, the Levite or the Samaritan
the Samaritan of course
he was the only one who showed compassion to someone who badly needed help
you are right
the priest is the one who serves God
but he was indifferent to the plight of the man's pain
yes even the Levite who works in the house of the Lord did not help
it was only the Samaritan who came to the man's help
and he was helping a Jew
even though he knew that the Jews do not like Samaritans
yes Jesus I understand now who we should consider our neighbours
who God wants us to love as we love ourselves
so if you want to go to heaven and live there eternally
love the Lord with your whole being and love your neighbours too
this is the story of David a young shepherd boy from Israel
who defeated Goliath a giant warrior
our story happened a long long time ago when saul was the king of Israel
God was not happy with Saul as he had disobeyed him many times
God spoke to Samuel an old prophet
and David was chosen as the future king of Israel
King Saul had a bad dream one day he called for Samuel
Samuel I feel troubled
I am having bad dreams
I feel somebody is trying to take away the control over my kingdom
it is just a dream so calm your mind
how can I help you relax
I would like to hear some soothing music
do you know of any good musician who can play for me
I know of a boy who plays the harp beautifully
I saw him in the house of Jesse in a nearby town
I'm sure he can help calm your mind I'll send for him immediately
okay please ask him to come immediately
and so Samuel had David brought to the palace
even as a young boy David was known to be a very good musician
he wrote songs and played the harp very well
the Philistines had been troubling Saul's kingdom for a long time now
they were always trying to take over the kingdom of Saul
the kingdom of Philistines was known to have many Giants among them
their soldiers were taller and stronger than most men
their champion soldier was Goliath
Goliath was almost 10 feet tall and made the soldiers of Israel look like little mice
one day Goliath walked up to the hills that divided Israel from the Philistines
and shouted out challenges
no one from Israel responded as they were afraid of Goliath
the giant kept challenging the Israelite's for almost forty days
two of David's brothers were in the king's army and they were fighting against the Philistines
with this threat of Goliath
the Israelite soldiers were starting to lose confidence day by day
they could not find the courage to face Goliath
David's father too was getting worried about his sons fighting in the army
it was during this time the David was serving the king at his palace
one day his father asked David to carry some food for his brothers
so David went to the battlefield carrying the food that his father gave him
when he arrived he saw that his brothers were terrified
it was then that he heard Goliath's challenge
shame on you Israel how long will you keep me waiting
isn't there anyone who has the courage to stand before me
you are not men but sheep ha ha ha ha ...
what is happening?
isn't there anyone to face this man's challenge?
we cannot risk losing against him
he is too big and strong for us to fight if we lose our Kingdom will be lost forever
nonsense this man is insulting our King in our whole country
this cannot be allowed I will fight this man and defeat him
ah little brother you are brave but also foolish
the King will not permit you to step into the battlefield
you are not a soldier you are a shepherd
you may be good with a harp but you cannot carry a sward
you are just a little boy go back to father and give him our news
I am going dear brother but I promise I will come back
I will get the permission of the king and come back to slay this monster of a man
God is with me he will help me defeat this giant he will give me the strength
David went back to his father's home and gave news of his brothers
then he went to the palace and asked for permission to speak to the king
yes David
you may go back to your father now and tend to his sheep
I do not need to listen to your music right now
we are in battle against the Philistines
I need to find a way to win this war and save our kingdom from these evil men
I will send for you when I need you
Oh King I have not come to play music
I wish to serve my country on the battlefield I shall defeat Goliath
I've come to get your permission to step on the battlefield and end this war once and for all
son I admire your spirit
but I cannot give you permission you are just a boy
my most feared fighters have not been able to tackle Goliath for more than 40 days now
if I allow you then it would be like I am sending you to your death
your soldiers may be afraid of him but I have no fear
the Lord watches over me all the time
I may be a shepherd boy but please have faith in me
I have killed many lions and wolves that attacked my sheep
I have not lost even one of my sheep to them
my God has given me the strength to fight my enemies whoever they are
I am sure he will give me the strength to defeat this giant too
please give me a chance to save the honour of my country
I promise I will not let you down
hmm your courage is truly inspiring my boy
I am moved by a trust in God and the loyalty you show to your country
I am giving you permission to fight Goliath
but you must wear this armour
it will protect you from his heavy blows
also take my sward with you
it has never failed me in my battles
thank you your majesty
I will not waste this chance to serve my country I do not need your armour or the sword my king
they are too heavy and they will only make it difficult for me to fight the Giant
I will now take your leave
thank you again for your permission
god be with you my boy
David was a young boy the youngest of his brothers
he could not serve in the army as he was not old enough
but he had the courage of the bravest soldier
he had complete faith in God and believed he would be protected against all dangers
he was absolutely certain that he could defeat Goliath
David had excellent aim
he carried a sling with him all the time
as he reached the river to cross to the gates
he picked up some pebbles from the riverbed
he held the stones in his hand
and then put them in a pouch he had tied to his waist
so armed with just his sling
David stepped into the battlefield to take on Goliath
as he reached the field he could hear the booming voice of Goliath yet again
you cowards where is your man?
if you do not send your fighter now I will come over and kill every single one of you
you have tested my patience enough
hey you over here I will fight you
ha ha ha you joke well
run away little boy before I accidentally step on you and kill you
I am not going anywhere you idiot's
I am here to fight you and beat you to the ground
you have been insulting my king and countrymen for too long
we are not afraid of you we just don't take your threats seriously
you're now becoming too much of a nuisance for us this will end today
today Philistines will become our slaves
my God protects me from all evil
he will help me to silence your threat forever
you cannot be serious
have you lost your mind
have your parents abandoned you do not test my mercy
send a real man to fight me you dare to insult me
why do you talk so much you ugly giant are you afraid of me
I am more than enough for you
if you cannot fight me then surrender to us now
that is it be ready to die now little boy
Goliath ran towards David lifting his spear high over his head
ready to strike little David dead
when he was close enough
David placed a stone on his sling and took his aim
then he pulled it back with all his strength and set a prayer to God
he let go of the stone
the stone hit Goliath straight between the eyes making a deep cut
he stopped stunned and not believing what just happened
he then dropped to his knees and fell over his face buried in the sand
the Israelite's were watching them from the hills
there was a moment of silence when Goliath dropped to the ground
they could not believe what had just happened
then there was a huge cry of victory from the soldiers
they ran to David and picked him up
they placed him on their shoulders
and marched back to the palace singing praises to their new hero
David David they chanted David the Giant Killer
thus David became the hero of Israel the Slayer of Goliath
he would later on become king of Israel
and rule the country for many many years to come loved and respected by everyone