I once heard Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky explain the importance of chesed with a story/joke that went something like this-
A woman on a plane turned to me and said excuse me, could you be a good Samaritan and help me get my bag in the overhead compartment. I reponded no, I can’t be a good Samaritan, but I can be a good Jew and will of course gladly help you with your bag.