Like A Good Neighbor…

Scripture:
Luke 10:36 — “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”

Observation:
Jesus tells the famous Good Samaritan story in response to a specific question from a lawyer, “Who is my neighbor?” Sometimes it seems that Jesus answered more questions from people desiring to trip Him up than from people actually looking for the truth. Anyway, Jesus answers the man in Luke 10 with a story and a question of His own. The truth Jesus revealed was that being a neighbor has a lot more to do with action than it does location. He didn’t ask the lawyer which of the men lived closer to the robbed, beaten man. He asked him which of the men proved he was a neighbor. The answer was not the one the lawyer probably wanted to say in front of the crowd. It wasn’t the priest and it wasn’t the Levite; it was the stranger, the foreigner, the Samaritan. The source of the lawyer’s question was arguably the most important scripture to the Jews. For Jesus to infer that a foreigner grasped the concept of loving your neighbor better than Israelites was both provocative and scandalous.

Application:
Yesterday I borrowed a lawn mower from my next-door neighbor because mine is in the repair shop. When I thanked him he said, “That’s what neighbors are for.”  He was exactly right—Neighbors are people who do for each other, not simply live next to each other. Jesus’ teaching in this scripture indicated that He believes the term “neighbors” applies more to action than location. That means that I must do for others to obey the biblical mandate to love my neighbor. Often my entire day can slip by without thinking about serving others. My daily quest is usually more about my personal comfort level than it is about my neighbors. I need God to break me for this. 

Prayer:
God, I need You to move my heart for my neighbors. Not just the neighbors on my street, but all I come across with need. I have been incredibly blessed and I long to fulfill the biblical mandate to love my neighbor. Open my eyes to those around me who I can bless today. 

 — Curt Hale, children’s pastor, Reservoir campus