“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…”
Most of us have heard the story of the good Samaritan. What we sometimes miss is that Jesus told the story in response to a question… and He didn’t answer the question.
Jesus was asked, “who is my neighbor”?... and He answered by describing how that man should be a neighbor to others. That clarification is important because it completely changes the message.
The man talking to Jesus wanted to establish what people needed to do to qualify as his neighbor, but Jesus said – “you’re the one who needs to qualify. Having a neighbor is your job, not theirs”.
That flips the script... I can no longer look for loopholes to disqualify you – instead, I must do things that qualify me to be your neighbor.
God made it clear that life is a team sport and that we are to consider others as more important than ourselves. That point was significant enough for Jesus to include when asked about the greatest commandment.
God placed the need for community in our DNA. Psychological studies on solitary confinement have revealed that isolation "destroys people as human beings." Being alone causes anxiety, panic attacks, depression, anger, paranoia, and psychosis. The medical term for that is “it ain’t good.” We were created to love God and others.
In scripture, God warns us not to give up meeting together. He instructs us to go to church… go to bible study, encourage one another… meet other people’s needs and be a good neighbor.
So, as you go out today don’t look for someone to be a good friend to you… look for someone who needs you to be a good friend to them. Look for people, like the man on the road to Jericho, who need help. Because the only things you really get to keep – are things that you give away.
Living next door doesn’t make you a neighbor… loving someone does… Look for people who need to be loved… and then do something about it. Being a neighbor has nothing to do with where my house is… and everything to do with where my heart is.
"Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one." - Nikolai Berdyaev
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