Who is Your Neighbor?

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14

When someone thinks about who their neighbors are, most people would consider their neighbors to be those who live in a close proximity to them. In a larger city, maybe a few block radius, or out in a rural area, maybe a few miles. 

It has been my experience that neighbors will often help each other, and expect nothing in return, even refusing payment for work. I know some people who are older and their neighbors will come and cut their lawn, or plow snow out of their driveway, not for money, but just because they are “neighbors, and that’s what neighbors do for each other.”

I can remember a few times when our next-door neighbor helped us get somewhere because we had a flat tire and couldn’t drive there ourselves to get it fixed. We had a neighbor who would take his snowblower down our sidewalk and clear the snow. We didn’t ask him to do it, but he did it anyway. That kind of action shows love, or care, for your neighbor.

But who really is your neighbor? Is it more than just someone who lives near you? Jesus answered this question in Luke 10. A lawyer had just asked Jesus who a neighbor was, and Jesus told him this story.

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Luke 10:30-35

Upon finishing, Jesus asked the man who was neighbor to the man who had been beaten and robbed. The lawyer answered, “He that shewed mercy on him.” 

A priest and a Levite walked by the wounded man, but did nothing. They ignored someone who clearly needed help and passed him by. But the Samaratin, he did something completely different than the first two. He showed compassion. He showed love, and care. He did what he would have wanted someone else to do to him. 

And that really is all that someone needs to know to understand what it means to love their neighbor. Through His story, Jesus explains that everyone is your neighbor. That Samaratin might have never seen the other man before in his entire life, but when he saw someone in need, he didn’t shut up his bowels of compassion (1 John 3:17). He showed love.

What is the natural tendacy for a person to be concerned about? To only be concerned with themselves. “What’s in it for me?” This kind of reaction is not love for a neighbor, it’s love for one’s self. 

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4

“But I don’t want to help that person, because they’re wicked and terrible.” 

As a Christian, a person needs to understand the love that Jesus has. 

Jesus saw that no one kept the law, and He came and did it for us. He saw our need for a Savior, and He took the law away. Instead of forcing us to be under that burden, Jesus offers us grace.

And not to just a select few. Jesus offers His mercy and grace to all. Remember, Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. He died while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), before we even believed in Him. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to love your neighbor. 

In Luke 16, we read a parable that Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar. Every day the beggar sat outside the rich man’s gate, full of sores, asking just for the crumbs from the rich man’s table. Eventuallly the beggar died, as did the rich man; the beggar carried up to Abraham in Heaven, and the rich man into hell. 

In hell, the rich man could see Abraham in Heaven, and cried out to him to send Lazarus (the beggar) to him to bring him a little water, because he was in pain and torment in the flames. 

But Abraham told him, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” (Luke 16:25)

See, he saw a person in need, but did nothing to help. He didn’t show love towards his neighbor.

The next time you see someone in need of help, remember, they are you neighbor. Treat them as though they were you yourself.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

In Christ,

Andrew