The Good Neighbor

“. . . And when he saw him, he had compassion on him.” (Luke 10:33)

An expert in religious law asked Jesus this question, testing Him: “And who is my neighbor?” (v. 29). In reply, Jesus told a story about three men’s response to a man beaten, stripped, robbed, and left for dead along the roadside. Two of the three men were religious leaders; they walked across the road to avoid him. The third man walking by not only had compassion for the wounded man but acted on that which he felt in his heart. Dying, the wounded man’s fellow countrymen deserted him, but he was rescued from death by a man considered “unclean” in those days—an outsider who supplied everything for his welfare.

The compassionate man saw someone in need and quickly responded, even knowing what the townspeople thought of him. Choosing to whom we minister happens, but it shouldn’t. Sometimes, we get caught up with busy schedules, ministry activities, recreational and “down” time, and miss people in need around us. Other times we assume (or hope) someone else will take care of those needs. Unless we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, our spiritual ears will not hear their sometimes-silent cries for help. Often the needed support is clear, and we have a decision to make: Is this, my neighbor?

According to Jesus, everyone is our neighbor. He said the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and then added, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”(Matthew 22:37–39). If we say we love God, we should extend that love to everyone as a good neighbor. How will you express your love for God today?