This past week millions of people watched the last episode of Seinfeld. The plot had to do with the fact that Jerry and his pals were guilty of breaking the local "Good Samaritan" law. That meant as innocent bystanders they failed to respond to a woman in trouble. Thus they were put in jail and tried and convicted for their crime.
Paul, on the other hand, is imprisoned for setting a slave girl free. He is a Good Samaritan but in that culture he commits a crime. This scenario raises the inevitable question; Why are good people punished for doing good deeds? It seems terribly unfair.
This is just one example of Paul’s ministry. The more he spoke the truth, the more he found himself in hot water. Paul remained committed to the gospel in spite of the consequences. He was willing to take risks and it often yielded him repercussions. Paul, however was focused on doing good and his reward was seeing others free or made whole.
When Jerry and his buddies end up in jail they whine and immediately call for a lawyer. They can’t understand that standing by and doing nothing is a criminal offense. The prosecutor blackens their character by presenting a parade of people whom they have taken advantage of in the past. The jury is persuaded and Jerry and his pals are sentenced to jail. Although the event is surrounded with humor and laughter, it is a real satire on their pathetic lives.
Paul and his friends accept their punishment without whining or complaining. Instead, they are jailed and end up singing hymns. Here they are, hopelessly chained, no foreseeable way out. Rather than feel sorry for themselves or call an attorney, they seize the opportunity to sing and pray. While they are being hopeful in a hopeless situation, other prisoners are taking note of their faith.
What Paul gives us is a counterpart to hopelessness and despair. He responds with praise and reverence to God. It was customary for Paul to "rejoice in his suffering." For regardless of his predicament he could say, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Someone once said, "No one in this world knows enough to be a pessimist." These words could have been easily said by Paul. Paul had hope. He was optimistic about the future and not concerned about himself. Perhaps we are hopeless because we are too concerned with our survival. When we are backed into a corner we panic or quit or end up depressed. The great Methodist preacher, Leotine Kelly once said, "we need to treat every moment as a new beginning, a new door." Regardless of our peril there is always hope.
The story does not end here. It can’t. God is not finished with Paul. Just about the time all seems hopeless, an earthquake shakes the prison and Paul and his friends are free. They are totally free to walk from their cell and escape. But in the process, the jailer, feeling derelict in his duties, is about to take his life. He wonders why Paul cares about him. He feels a great sense of failure and is filled with hopelessness. Paul intervenes and the man wants to be saved. He is converted, and as a result he has his entire family baptized.
Paul continues to do ministry even when the door to freedom is standing open. He is focused on the lives of others and therefore puts his own life on hold. When daylight came, Paul and his friends are set free.
How do you respond to a hopeless situation? Are you like Jerry and his pals, standing on the sidelines, not willing to get involved? Are you imprisoned by your despair, whining and complaining? Or, are you like Paul and his friends, committed to helping others and proclaiming the gospel at whatever the cost?
What this story illustrates is that the only way to handle hopeless situations is to remain faithful, believing in the power of God and continuing to love our neighbors, whatever the cost. The end result is a continued journey, and not surprisingly more opportunities in the future that will demand our love.
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio