But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2: 18
I love my neighbors. This morning the lady across the lawn stopped by for a chat about poetry. This afternoon another one stopped to share with me that her brother is in the hospital on a ventilator and not expected to survive. Another neighbor, on learning I hadn’t been feeling well, offered to make me some chicken soup. I love the friendly chats with the couple who have a work room in their garage. I smile and wave to the shy “hello” from the little girl across the way who rides her little scooter. I hope my demeanor puts a smile on the faces of all I meet. I hope I meet their needs by listening, praying for, and sharing good things.
I know, however, there are neighbors of many sorts beyond the place I live. Jesus illustrated the true definition of neighbor in his parable about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-37, (See text below).[ii] My neighbor is not only someone who looks like me; my neighbor is not institutional religion; my neighbor is someone whose needs I can supply—someone who needs my love. My neighbor is anyone who needs to see the face of Jesus in mine.
Over the last two years, since I had my first true encounter with neighbors without a home, God has given me the opportunity to explore ways to help these neighbors in need. Rather than ask, “What can I do with so many out there?” the better question is to ask God to show me ways to help. Whether it’s the lonely widow/widower down the street, the single mother struggling to raise her children and juggling her childcare and job, or the homeless person on the street, they are our neighbors. I can:
- Stop and talk to them. Many of them will share their stories and be willing for you to pray with them.
- Consider the season of the year: hot weather: need for water, sun screen, bug repellent, hats, non-perishable foods; cold weather: blanket, hand warmers, gloves, scarves, coupons for fast food or a cup of coffee, directions to a homeless shelter …
- Carry goody bags in your car with protein bars, water, toiletries, and a few dollars for food.
- Donate funds, good clothing, non-perishable foods, toiletries to a local homeless shelter.
- Volunteer at the local homeless shelter.
- Start a prayer ministry with a prayer box in places where they go and stop by to collect the prayer requests.
[iii]WHO’S YOUR NEIGHBOR
I like to know the folks who live here in my neighborhood.
I’ve found them very friendly. They are also kind and good.
They never turn their backs to me when I would say, “Hey, there!”
And if I ever need a friend, they show me that they care.
I see some other neighbors, too, who need a helping hand.
They sit on curbs and corners in the cities of our land.
They may live in their autos, or sleep huddled by a door.
They, too, become our neighborhood when we have so much more.
So, stop some time and talk to them and show them of God’s care,
By feeding them; by praying for and with them, as you share.
That man was made, like you and me, in God’s own image, too.
That woman’s heart beats just like ours, and hurts the way we do.
No matter where we go to church or how we claim our creed,
How can we show these people…these neighbors in their need…
That Jesus cares enough for them to send us in His place?
Perhaps when we connect with them, they see Him in our face.
What is the edge—the boundary—that makes our neighborhood?
What would our Savior say about the things we don’t but could?
So, who’s your neighbor? Where is he? Where does your neighbor dwell?
My neighbor’s anyone who needs God’s love for me to tell.
June E. Titus
Challenge: Pray for the homeless; get to know them; show them Jesus; ask God to show you how you can serve these neighbors.
Prayer: Father in heaven, You have made all humankind in Your image. Help us to look upon all others as our neighbors. Help us to put our faith to work in sharing Your love with those who may be unlovable, loveless, and in need of Your redeeming love. Because of Jesus, Amen.
[i] AI creation
[ii] Luke 10:25-37 ESV – The Parable of the Good Samaritan – And – Bible Gateway
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
[iii] Creative commons
