Who Is My Neighbor?

For if you love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same.

Luke 6:32-33 KJV

On one occasion while Jesus was teaching, an expert in the law asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life (see Luke 10:25-37). Jesus asked the man what the law said, to which the lawyer answered that one must love God with all of one's soul, strength, and mind and to love one's neighbor as himself. Jesus' reply probably surprised this man. He said, "Do this and you will live." 

Perhaps this individual loved his family and friends. He probably loved his fellow teachers of the law, so hoping to justify himself, he asked, "Who is my neighbor?"

What follows is commonly known as the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus shows us that our neighbor can be anyone whom we run across with a need. Our love and care for others must cross ethnic and social lines. Love knows no distinctions between the rich or the poor. In fact we are to even love our enemies.

In a surprising twist we see the two religious men pass by the man who was beaten and left for dead. We might have expected them to have some compassion. The biggest surprise however was the Samaritan who did stop to help. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews, who looked down on them as a mixed race of people. This man stopped to render aid to someone who very likely might have despised him. 

The priest and levite who passed by were no better than the sinners who only loved those who would love them back. It's likely that the teacher of the law that Jesus was speaking with was no better. How about us? How about you? It is easy to love friends and family, but what about that homeless man on the corner, or that woman with a "reputation"? Your neighbor may be Muslim, or Hindu. Maybe the person who needs your help the most right now is an atheist. God calls us to show them love just the same.

Jesus finished this parable by asking the man who was the neighbor to the one who fell among thieves. The lawyer answered, "The one who showed mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  That is the call for us as well.

Considering the Poor

 One mark of a healthy Christian is their concern for the poor. As one reads through the Bible God's heart for the poor becomes evident. If we as Christians are filled with the Spirit of God, this same heartbeat should be ours as well. To not feel a sense of care, a care that leads to action, is to leave one wondering if God does in fact live within him or her.

James puts it like this, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things   which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:14-17 KJV).

And John has this to say, But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth (1 John 3:17-18 KJV).

In Matthew 25:31-46 we read of the nations being gathered before Jesus. In this passage a separation occurs between the "sheep and goats." The sheep to eternal life, and the goats to destruction. The basis of this judgement is how we treated the "least of these" in this lifetime. Did we see them hungry and feed them, naked clothe them, visit the sick and those in prison? This is a sobering passage of scripture. Jesus equates our response to the needy around us to our response to Him. 

I am aware that there are those who will say that these scripture examples are speaking of the brethren, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. To be sure, if we fail to care for one another within the body of Christ, we are in a most pitiful situation. But what about the poor in general, who are all around us?

 I have seen Galatians 6:10 misused to focus almost entirely on the household of faith (the church), to the exclusion of the poor who are lost and dying without Christ. Yes, we recognize that we should do good to all men, but the emphasis is on especially the household of faith. Of course, all the effort stays "in house" while the world at large is ignored. 

A certain man wishing to justify himself, once asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Did Jesus tell him that he only needed to care for his immediate family and friends, or only the members of his synagogue, or local church? Do we love only fellow Christians, and spend all of our resources and efforts on them?

The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:27-37) tends to step on toes, destroying our comfort zones in the process. A certain man was on his way to Jericho from Jerusalem. This was a very dangerous road, and he was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Now several men passed by, one a priest, and the other a Levite. They were fellow Jews, and one would think that surely they would show compassion. However, they looked at him, crossed the road, and passed on. Now these were religious men, yet their religion was worthless. They are a good example for those of us who take the name of Christ yet close up our hearts to the needy ones around us! 

Now a Samaritan came along. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews. Ethnically, they were a mix of nationalities living in what had once been the northern kingdom of Israel. We might expect this individual to look upon this helpless man and walk on as well. We might think that he had every right to despise this Israelite. After all, that is what racism tends to do.

Then an amazing thing happens. He stops and helps this man. He gets him to an inn and pays all of his expenses. This hated Samaritan was filled with compassion for his enemy. You see, love crosses all of the barriers we tend to put up in our lives. Racism, social status, religion, all of these tend to keep many of us from loving our neighbor! 

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to do good to them (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:35-36). Our neighbor can be anyone who we come into contact with who has a need that we can meet. Jesus gives us a command that comes right from the Father's heart for the poor, Fear not, little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:32-34 KJV). 

Not only is this a command from Christ to those who would follow Him, but it is also a gauge of our hearts! What motivates us? Are we moved with compassion for others, or driven by our interests only? However, we are not to merely look out for ourselves, but others as well (Phil 2:4).

We read of the emphasis placed on the care of the poor and needy by the fledgling Church. They care of the poor was the one thing that Peter, James, and John urged Paul and Barnabus to remember, and of course Paul was eager to do this (Gal 2:10). Remembering widows and orphans in their distress was considered "Pure and undefiled religion" before God (James 1:27). After the "birth" of the Church on the day of Pentecost the believers practiced the words of Christ, sold their possessions, and took care of the needy among them (Acts 2:44-45, 4:34-35). Notice the selflessness that these new Christians displayed before all those around them! 

So let us examen ourselves to see where we are at spiritually speaking. Are we filled with love and compassion for others? Or do we tend to neglect, or even refuse to help others in need? This is not meant to bring on a guilt trip, but to encourage us to lay down our lives, and begin to love our neighbor as ourselves.