Love your Neighbor

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

Who is your neighbor?

As trivial as the question may sound it is not that straightforward to know your neighbor. A certain lawyer asked Jesus the same question. Jesus, in answering the question He told a parable commonly known as the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The parable of the Good Samaritan

And answering, Jesus said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by coincidence a certain priest came down that way and seeing him, he passed by on the opposite side. And in the same way a Levite, also being at the place, coming and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side. But a certain traveling Samaritan came upon him, and seeing him, he was filled with pity. And coming near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And going on the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him. And whatever more you spend, when I come again I will repay you. Then which of these three, do you think, was neighbor to him who fell among the robbers? And he said, The one doing the deed of mercy to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.(Luke 10:30-37)

From the above quoted parable of the Good Samaritan, we see that this neighbor was not a common neighbor that we know of. Although all neighbors ought to be loved, the commandment to love our neighbors needs extra thought if we are to execute according to the will of God.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary has six definitions for the word neighbor.

1. One who lives near another. In large towns, a neighbor is one who lives within a few doors. In the country, a neighbor may live at a greater distance; and in new settlements, where the people are thinly scattered over the country, a neighbor may be distant several miles. Such is the use of the word in the United States
2. One who lives in familiarity with another; a word of civility.
3. An intimate; a confidant.
4. A fellow being. Acts 7.
5. One of the human race; any one that needs our help, or to whom we have an opportunity of doing good.
6. A country that is near.
   

Out of the six (6) meanings for the word neighbor, which one do you think applies to the passage of the Good Samaritan? Certainly, it is meaning number five (5). Any one that needs our help, or to whom we have an opportunity of doing good is the neighbor the bible commandment refers us to.

What place does meaning number one (1) take then? The word of God says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”(Romans 12:18). Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:18), and is a product of love. You cannot live peacefully with people you do not love. Hence, we ought to love everyone. However, in the context of the commandment to love our neighbors, we shall attempt to classify this neighbor more clearly.

How to identify your neighbor

We may live in the same neighborhood but have different neighbors. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, all the three characters in the parable saw the man in need. The Priest saw him, the Levite looked on him, and the Good Samaritan saw him. The neighbor is the one you see in need. You see, although we all have two eyes and may seem to look at the same thing, the details of what we see are always different. Most of the times when I walk into a new Church building, I notice how beautifully or how carelessly kept the church is. Not everyone notices that. Hence, the people who do not see what I see will not be held responsible for taking no act. However, I will be held responsible, because I saw it. Hence, the neighbor is the one you see in need. If you do not take any action, the law to love your neighbor will judge you. Apostle John wrote, “But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?” (1 John 3:17).

You see John says the same thing. Seeing is the first key to identify your neighbor.

The second key to identify your neighbor is need. Who needs your help? A neighbor is anyone rich or poor who you are able to render assistance of any kind. For instance, Benny Hinn is not poor. However, he needs your financial support to reach millions of lost souls. Therefore, Benny Hinn is a neighbor in need in that regard. Hence, if you see a neighbor having a need that you are able to meet but you take no action, then the law to love your neighbor will judge you.
Next time you notice a neighbor in need do not ask yourself why the other neighbor having more resources did not help first. He may have not noticed it. The Holy Spirit in us causes us to see what others do not see. (For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)) Hence, what you see is your responsibility. When you take action, you shall surely be blessed.

Amen.

Thanks for reading my article! Readers may also enjoy reading How Jesus Christ Destroyed Death article by Love Kingdom Ministries.