BE SOMEONE’S NEIGHBOR

Luke 10:36-37 KJV
Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do you likewise.

Dear Believer,

When Jesus came, He changed the way some common terms were known and defined.

Everyone knew that your neighbor was someone who lived close to you, but Jesus taught that neighborliness was not all about proximity; it was about something else which I will soon show.

In Luke 20:30-37, Jesus told a parable in which a man going on his way was attacked by robbers. Different people passed by him and left him in a pool of blood.

It was first a priest. He saw the wounded man but was probably in a hurry to perform his responsibilities in the temple. So he ‘passed by on the other side.’

Next was the Levite, a man born into a special tribe and dedicated to God. He saw this wounded man but also ‘passed by on the other side.’ He had his own problems, too. He probably prayed that someone without any problem would come to the man’s aid, and then hurried on.

The two men Jesus called Priest and Levite were Israelites, just as the man who was robbed and wounded. Both were the epitome of religiosity.

The robbers that robbed and wounded him were most probably Israelites, too. The priest and the Levite wouldn’t hurt anyone, but wouldn’t help either.

The priest and the Levite would represent the pastor and the ‘Christian’ of today. Many can preach on how to do good, but wouldn’t do it themselves.

After these two, the Samaritan came along. He saw this wounded man and helped him. He administered first aid, took him to the hospital, paid for his treatment and promised to come to make more payment if further charges were incurred.

The Samaritan was the despised and rejected. To the Jew, he was a permanently defiled mongrel who didn’t know and would never know how to worship God. The robbed and wounded man also believed this about all Samaritans, until his life was saved.by one.

Jesus asked His hearers who the wounded man’s neighbor was among these wayfairers.

The answer was obvious: his helper was his neighbor.

So neighborliness is not about proximity, as in living close together; or consanguinity, as in being related by blood. It is rather about sensibility, as in being tender enough to respond to the needs of others and reaching out to help in any way you can.

Jesus said to His hearers, “Go and do likewise.”

That, ordinarilly, would be an insult to an Israelites. To go and do like a Samaritan? To go and emulate the unclean mongrel?

You see, too many Believers are ‘spiritual’ without being good. They can pray endlessly, expound the scriptures, but would only ‘pass on the other side’ when they see someone who needs the help they can easily render.

Let me.say this: any spirituality that is bereft of good deeds is fake.

I am saying again to my brethren this season, get someone to help. Let the Spirit of the Lord lead you to put a smile on someone’s face.

Be a good neighbor this season.

Your friend,
Deon.