Love Your Neighbor

Often when we think of loving our neighbor it consists of doing some sct of kindness, ranging from offering help to sharing the evangelion. Never do we consider bearing with  a neighbor’s eccentricities and even negative traits to enter our hearts. Surely, Christ does not want me to put up with their dog’s barking or to let them blast loud music. Our normal motive is to put an end to the suffering. But what if God is using your neighbor to teach you grace and mercy? Does The Lord have to put up with your behaviors? If the roles where reversed, and you had the barking dog would you want a threat or cranky response?   

I am not saying we should become doormats and spineless, nor am I declaring we should never confront.  What I am suggesting is that our default be gratia, grace and our disposition understanding rather than disgruntled. Too often we charge into the fray, certain our neighbor’s intent is malicious, that they have a personal vendetta against us with their loud music and so we arrive like Visigoths, ready to rage and punish, when we should be Ambassadors of Christ making appeals. 

What if instead of prosecuting our neighbor, we prayed for them? Imagine if our first reaction was to invoke God the Trinity, who knows the heart and mind of our neighbor (Jeremiah 17:10) as well ad their history. Perhaps then we could see our Lord at work, moving on our behalf and sparing us another row over our neighbor’s  tree’s leaves falling in our pool. There is nothing to say that Christos will not in prayer urge us to speak or even confront our neighbor, but the issue is are we ready to do so in love?, “The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these,” (Mark 12:31), and “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:15). If we have not love for our neighbor we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-4), and our charity is vanity. 

We too quickly assume a troublesome neighbor is vessel of the devil, when in point of fact, God may have sent them to test your metal, to see if your character stands up to the fiery trial or does it buckle over a barking dog and bad music taste? It is tempting to blame Bezeelbub when a neighbor vexes us, and miss the lesson the Lord has for us; which can be simply to activate a merciful and gracious heart. For lest we become prejudiced, Christ loved us not when we were nieghbors but enemies, “6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11). 

Should your neighbor be your enemy, Christ would have you love them still, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:38-48). 

The question remains, are you able to pray for your noisy, nosey, and negligent neighbor? Can you look past your comfort and convenience, and see an opportunity to witness Christ’s love?  Will you give a neighbor a chance, assuming first the best until you can prove the worst? Are you ready to actually “love thy neighbor” oppose to just offering if lip service? Now is your opportunity, and remember, it may not be them who is in need, but you whom God is trying to speak to and test your character and platitudes with some neighborly turmoil. Amen.