BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR

So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  (Luke 10:27-29 NKJV)

We can’t live alone. No one can be entirely independent of others. I’m not only a center, but I am part of another man's circumference; and every other man, woman or child I know is part of my circumference. We are members one of another. In other words, we all have neighbors; and a complete human life, which has windows opening to the infinite Creator, must have doors opening on the street towards our finite fellow-creatures.

When we talk about neighbors, we naturally think of those who live next door, and we are apt to reduce the divine command to those who reside on the same street. If these are very comfortable and well-to-do, it seems as though there is not much scope for helping them. This definition of neighbors, however, is altogether too narrow and contracted, as our Lord shows in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer asked who his neighbor was, and Jesus said, "Be a neighbor to someone else.'" And if we asked what kind of people I am to be a neighbor to, the answer comes: "Make no distinction of race or creed; but wherever you come across a man who has been stripped, beaten, robbed, and is half-dead, don't wait for other men to help him. But bind up his wounds; minister to him, and treat him as though you loved him with the natural love of brotherhood."

A rich man might have paid a policeman to patrol that dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho, and to look after those in distress, but it would not be so blessed in its effect on his own character, or on the men who were helped, as personal ministry would be. We ought to combine the two, because our personal experience of such cases will enable us to direct our policeman, and live in their efforts, so that they may become our own. Perhaps the better policy is to get elected on the city council, or judges bench, so that we may put down the gangs of thieves which contaminate life's highways.

Remember that a gift of money is by no means the only way of helping your neighbors. What men and women need most is compassion, sympathy, your hand and heart-help. "Silver and gold have I none" has been the confession of some of the greatest benefactors of our race. Above all, it was true of our Lord Himself, who became poor that He might really help us, as He never could have done had He remained rich. Let Him be our example, who came not to be served, but to serve.

PRAYER

Show me, to-day, O Lord, that one of your little ones to whom I am to give a cup of water in your Name. In Christ’s name I ask, AMEN.

God’s Daily Promise

Promise #11:
My plan for your future is filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (WEB)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.