I hesitated to share my story about my neighbor because it brings back some shocking memories. When we first moved into our little house in the big woods, our neighbor tried to block us every way he could from accessing our home. We had to hire a surveyor and get the county law enforcement involved before we could move in. Then, since we had four acres, I took an extra job teaching a college class at night so I could buy my husband a riding mower. Well, I cannot say for certain that the neighbor vandalized it, but there was gray paint put into the gas tank and the mower was ruined, invalidating its warranty. When the police investigated, they found gray paint in his shed, but that was circumstantial evidence. We tried, we really did. We took bags of candy, baked goods, all kinds of small gifts to let them know we were friendly. After being told that we were trespassing and could be shot for our efforts, we stopped going there. Then, the corker happened. My husband was mowing our front lawn (on his second mower that I got him) when the neighbor attacked him physically. He knocked Harry off the seat of the mower and once he got him on the ground, he beat him up. Now, Harry is not small, but he is twenty years older, in his early 50’s. Anyway, once he finished bruising him up pretty badly, Harry ran into the house and called the police. The neighbor was arrested and charged with assault and battery, and we went to court to testify. Our testimony wasn’t needed…the judge read the abusive neighbor the riot act and put him on warning to ever come near us again. All that being said…he is still our neighbor and I still pray for him and for his wife. When his only daughter died a few years ago, we didn’t feel free to go over and comfort them, but we sent a card and prayed for them. We both figure he has has a hard life to act in such a way, and as a result he resents everyone who is white. Not a problem! Jesus loves everyone, so we pray and wait for God to change his heart. He lives next door to us, but he is not our only neighbor. As the devotional points out, our neighbor is anyone who could use our assistance, which includes our prayers and loving thoughts.

A True Neighbor

Have you ever wondered: “What does God want me to do?”

If you’re looking for a verse that summarizes the commands in both the Old and New Testaments, here’s what Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia…

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Galatians 5:14 NLT

Paul’s words echo a command Jesus gave when He was asked what the most important commandment was (Matthew 22:37-40). What they’re both essentially saying is: beyond loving God with everything in you, you should love your neighbor as yourself. 

Who is your neighbor? A Jewish expert in religious law once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) So Jesus told him a story about a man who was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Both a priest and a Levite walked by and ignored the man—but it was a Samaritan who sacrificed his time and money to help him heal.

For many reasons, Samaritans were despised by Jews. But that didn’t stop the Samaritan in this story from showing compassion. What Jesus wanted the Jewish expert (and us) to hear is that anyone, anywhere is our neighbor—and everyone is worthy of our sacrificial love.

How do you love yourself? When you have a need of any kind, you work hard to meet it. You don’t have to think about how to treat yourself; it’s just something you do. The care we unconsciously show ourselves is also how we should care for others.

How can you love your neighbor as you love yourself? If someone needs help with their home, job, or children, you can serve joyfully. If a family is struggling financially, you can give generously. If there’s someone in your life who doesn’t have a godly example to look up to, you can step into the gap. 

Being a true neighbor is not always convenient and it will likely cost you, but you can still choose to love them as you love yourself. And when you serve others in this way, you are serving Jesus, too.

Today, take a moment to consider the people around you who could use your help. Then, ask God to reveal how you can love and serve them this week.