I became obsessed with the idea of being a good neighbor this year. What does it mean and who is my neighbor, my neighbor?
An expert of the law asks Jesus exactly that question in Luke 10. He asks who is my "neighbor" because the Jews had many enemies; the Samaritans, Romans... and it was a normal question at the time. Jesus begins to tell a parable that today we call the "Good Samaritan" but it was very controversial in the first century.
A man was attacked and left for dead in the middle of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and Levite ignored him. Imagine, these two were like the pastors and worship leaders of their time. They talked publicly about caring for the poor, but in the moment of need they didn't, they left their countryman for dead. Then, along comes a Samaritan... Samaritans were hated, despised, and excommunicated from the Jewish community. They were the scum of the earth in the Jewish perspective. And Jesus, always against the system of this world, says that two "righteous" ignored the needy and then comes this ungodly one. The ungodly one helps the afflicted one and takes him to a hotel, pays for him and takes care of all his needs.
Attention must be paid to this interaction.
Jesus asks the expert do the law, "What do you think, which of the three became a 'neighbor' to the victim?"
"The one who had compassion" said the expert of the law.
"Go and do likewise" replied Jesus.
Our neighbor is not he who looks like us or who is good for us to help. To be a good neighbor is to touch God's heart and experience his compassion. It is without limits, boundaries or qualifications, and it does not discriminate. It is about seeing every human being through God's eyes.
Who haven't you had compassion for? Do you have neighbors you don't know? Are you too busy to see opportunities to love and practice compassion?
Take a moment today to read Luke 10. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see his compassion and love for the least, the afflicted, the outcast and to give you compassion for your neighbor.
- Evan Craft
