How is Your Record?

This is the "BURR" translation of Luke 10:25-37.

One day, a Doctor of Theology asked Jesus this question to see what he would do: "Great Scholar, what do I have to do to make it into heaven?"

[26] Jesus countered, "What do you think your Bible has to say about that?"

[27] The man replied, " 'I should love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind.' Also, 'I should love my neighbor as much as I love myself.' "

[28] "Good answer!" Smiled Jesus. "Do this and you will be getting it right!"

[29] But the theologian wanted a more specific answer, so he asked another question, "So just who should I consider my neighbor?"

[30] Then Jesus told him a story: "A Christian man was walking downtown in Bangor one day and he was mugged by a group of thugs. They took all his fancy clothes and wallet, beat him up, and left him lying half dead on the sidewalk.

[31] "It just so happened, that a Salvation Army Officer came by on his way to the bank. When he saw the man lying there, he was afraid of having his deposit stolen, so he left the man there, back-tracked and went to the bank another way. [32] A short while later, a Salvation Army Soldier on his way to lunch walked by and saw the man lying there. But because he had little time and an appointment right after lunch, he also turned around and went down a different street to the deli.

[33] "Then a homeless man came along and when he saw the hurt man, he felt bad for him. [34] Kneeling down, the homeless man stopped the bleeding with a dirty rag and wrapped his cuts with a plastic bag. Then he put the man on his shopping cart and took him to the shelter, where he got him some clothes, a warm bed and helped him further. [35] The next day he called Social Services and arranged for them to provide for the man until he was back on his feet. 'If it costs more than you’re allowed to spend, I’ll pay for the rest with the deposit from the bottles and cans I collect.'

[36] "So which of these people do you think was a neighbor to the man who was mugged?" Jesus asked.

[37] The theologian responded with, "The one who showed him mercy."

Then Jesus said, "Of course. So how is your record of helping others?"