The most important lane in the game for a jungler is the mid lane. All lanes are to varying degrees important, but the mid lane is critical to maintaining jungle control. If the mid lane loses, especially if it's a decisive loss, a jungler's life can become utterly miserable.
The importance of the mid lane bears similarities to the importance of the four center tiles in Chess. The central location of these tiles gives them power because they provide access to many parts of the board, which is why much of Chess involves fighting over these locations or finding clever ways around them. The mid lane in League of Legends is very much the same, it has the easiest access to every objective on the map.
As a result the mid lane has a dramatic influence on how well a jungler can control the jungle on both sides of the map. A weak mid lane can't contest or support invasions unless their opponent is inattentive, as otherwise they risk being intercepted and blown away by their laning opponent. For similar reasons a strong mid lane can support or be the instigator of invasions. A decisive loss mid lane opens up the entire jungle to the enemy, and can quickly collapse the other lanes as well.
This doesn't happen to the same extent with side lanes simply because of distances. The distance from top or bottom lane to any nearby buff camp is greater than the distance from the mid lane, and can be covered by a single ward. It's only when those lanes snowball to the point where they fearlessly push down a turret and past river that they become significant jungle threats.
Maintaining control of the mid lane is the key to maintaining jungle control. Unless your mid lane is a complete loss, it can be in your self-interest to help them get back on their feet. Any jungle farm you might lose by helping them might be lost anyway if your jungle becomes porous.
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