We often hear of two types of sin…the sin of commission and the sin of omission.  The sin of commission is doing something that we should not do.  The sin of omission is not doing something we should do.  Your example is an example of the sin of omission.  If we were to witness an elderly person being hurt by someone else, I trust that we would do something, even if it was just to scream for help on their behalf. 

In order to encourage people to offer aid to those in danger or those injured, most countries have some form of a Good Samaritan law.  These laws differ from state to state and from country to country, but the intent is the same…to get people involved in helping others.  Good Samaritan laws offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or whom they believe to be injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated. The protection is intended to reduce bystanders’ hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.  In some areas, the Good Samaritan Law imposes a legal duty on anyone who is capable to give aid to help a person, who is in great danger, without putting himself or others in serious danger.  Isn’t it a shame that laws must be passed to motivate people to help others in need?

What does the Bible say about this topic?  We read in James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  This is a very broad statement, showing that when we recognize the chance to do something good, but we refuse to do it, it is sin.  Galatians 6:10 instructs us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  From this we learn that the OPPORTUNITY to do good imposes the RESPONSIBILITY to do good.

I can understand the hesitation to help someone if doing so would put you in danger.  If you watched an elderly person being mugged at gunpoint, you may not want to enter the scene and put your own life in peril.  (Of course, if the Lord leads you to intervene, you should obey Him.)  There are still things you can do.  You can call 911.  You can yell at the attacker from a distance to bring their crime to the attention of those in the vicinity.  Surely, in the believer, there is a love for the victim and therefore a desire to help.  We read in Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”  If we are walking in fellowship with the Lord, He will lead us to act in love and propriety towards those in peril.

Sometimes the sin of OMISSION can turn into the sin of COMMISSION.  For an example, let’s consider King David.  We read in 2 Samuel 11:1, “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID TARRIED STILL AT JERUSALEM.”  Here, David is no longer acting by faith in God’s service. When the time comes at which kings go forth to war, he stays at home at ease, and sends others in his place to fight the Lord’s battles.  Surely, this is a sin of OMISSION.  Now, let’s read verses 2 and 4, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon…And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and HE LAY WITH HER; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.”  David’s sin of OMISSION led him to commit a sin of COMMISSION.  May we all be careful to follow the Lord’s leading so that we know what we do is of the Lord and is neither a sin of omission nor commission.  (CC)  (573.2)