Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what it means to love your neighbor.
Luke 10:25-37 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Jesus message is that our neighbor is someone who is in need, may be different than you, and may be in an unpleasant condition. To be their neighbor, you may Be inconvenienced. You may miss a meeting, an appointment, a once in a life time opportunity, your flight, etc.
To be a good neighbor, you will have to see the person in need through the eyes of Christ which should produce feelings of pity and compassion in you. You may be required to give the person time, money, or other resources.
Your actions may cause others to think less of you, but don’t let that stop you from being a good neighbor.
Be willing to respond even if you are the only one. “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” Roger Staubach. Let’s change that. Let’s go that extra mile until we make the traffic jam of all traffic jams!
