NEIGHBORS
Neighbor is the #FiveMinuteFriday word for this week. Usually what comes to mind is someone who lives near you. In blogging linkups we often refer to the person next to us as our neighbors. Nearness seems to have a lot to do with the word neighbor, but is that all it means?
What about the law expert who asked Jesus the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
What was the answer Jesus gave him? Jesus decided to tell a story. To those who are familiar it is the story of the good Samaritan. You can read the entire story in Luke 10:25-37.
In it is a man who was beaten, robbed, stripped and left for dead. A couple of religious men passed by, saw him but did nothing. A Samaritan, an outcast, stopped to help. He treated his wounds and took him to an inn where he could be given care. He also left money with the inn keeper and said when he returned he would pay whatever else was needed.
WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS?
Then Jesus posed the question right back to the law expert. He asked him, “Who was the neighbor?”
The man replied that it was the person who showed mercy. Afterward Jesus told him to go and do the same. May God help us to be good neighbors to all He puts in our path, whether we live near or far.
SOME THOUGHTS FROM SCRIPTURE:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What do you think? How can we be good neighbors?
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #FaithonFire, #MomentsofHope, #Glimpses, #LMMLinkup, #TellHisStory, #TeaAndWord
Hi Gayl,
This is so good to remember! Any one who comes across our path could be someone to share mercy with. Wow. Our lives would be so much more filled with Love if we lived that way every day wouldn’t they? Thank you so much for this good word! Blessings and Hugs to you, dear friend!
I pray that God would open our eyes to those so near to us to be aware of ways we can show love. Yes, I think our lives would be so much more fulfilling
Blessings and hugs to you, to my sweet friend! xoxo
Good question! How are we to be good neighbors? Sometimes it’s obvious how we can care for those around us. Sometimes it’s not so easy. Asking The Lord to help us be mindful of those around us and to be willing to respond is a big step.
Thanks for this reminder, Gayl!
Visiting you from my spot in FMF #46.
You’re right, sometimes it’s hard to know how to show love to those around us. But yes, God will help us know what to do.
Blessings to you!
Thanks for visiting.
If only we all were like the Good Samaritan! I’m in the 51 spot this week.
Yes, Tara. With God’s help we can become more like that.
Blessings to you!
Gayle, this is beautiful. I’m in the throws of where Harvey created so much destruction. I’m seeing much neighbor helping neighbor, but you sharing the scripture that “The one who showed mercy was the neighbor”. Lord help me show mercy!
Thank you, Tammy. Yes, I need the reminder, too, that the neighbor is the one who shows mercy. I can’t imagine how horrible for the people there. The pictures show so much devastation. You are definitely being a light and a helper there.
Blessings to you!
I really appreciate that you stated these scriptures. Have a blessed week!
Thank you, Carolina! Those are helpful to me to review, too.
Blessings to you!
One way in which this is applicable for me is that my mother-in-law is under hospice care in my home. We brought her home from the nursing home so she could die at home, cared for – and that was four years ago. She perked up and improved with one-on-one care, then declined a bit, and has been on kind of a plateau for a couple of years now. With caregivers, bath aides, chaplains, nurses, and a social worker all coming in and out of the house, I’ve sometimes felt like my introvert’s “haven” has been invaded. While I am grateful for what they do, I treasure the moments when no one is here or expected, and can resent intrusions, especially unexpected ones. But I need to be “neighborly” and hospitable to those who come into my home as well as to those I run into outside my home. Thanks for the reminder!
Caregiving is definitely hard. We had my husband’s mother in our home for awhile. She eventually went to live with one of her daughters. I totally understand the need to just be alone sometime without demands on us. We do need to care for ourselves, too.
It’s sometimes hard to be neighborly, but God can give us the strength and grace we need. I pray that he strengthens you, Barbara, and showers you with blessings and peace.
Thanks for visiting today! 🙂
Beautifully shared, Gayl!
Thanks so much, June!
Blessings to you!
I love this so much, Gayl! Yes – let us rise up and be neighbors… to be brothers and sisters, too!
Thank you, Karrilee. I’m so glad you like it! Yes, to be brothers and sisters, too. 🙂
Many blessings to you, dear Karrilee! xoxo
Gayl, your post is timely with the hurricanes happening right now. But even at home I try to teach my kids to give to those who ask, even if it is their sibling asking to play with their toy. And maybe one day when they grow up, they will put loving their neighbor in action outside the four walls of their home, too.
Thanks for visiting, Kelly! It’s so good to teach kinds while they are young to love others. I’m sure yours will catch on as they see your example.
Blessings to you!
And blogging has given us so many new neighbors!!!
Amen! It’s how I met you. 🙂 And I’m so glad to know you in person, too!
Blessings love and hugs to you, dear Susan! xo