Proverbs Chapter 14 verse 21 (NIV)
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbour but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
Luke Chapter 10 verses 25-29 (NIV)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”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.’“
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This verse in Proverbs caught my attention. It’s clear that Solomon, under God, considers having the wrong attitude towards our neighbour to be a sin. I was then immediately reminded of the expert in the law who tried to justify himself by asking “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus then taught him the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that anyone is our neighbour.
I’m sure that we have all, at least on occasion, come across someone who rubs us up the wrong way. If as Ambassadors of Jesus we want to be obedient to His teaching, then we need to be careful of our attitude towards them, because they are our neighbour too.
Should we be tempted to justify treating those who hurt, or even just irritate us differently, we need to remember Jesus further teaching on this matter. We see in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew chapter 22 verses 35-40) that He tells us that loving our neighbour as ourself is in fact the second greatest commandment, second only to loving the Lord our God with our whole heart. Certainly food for thought isn’t it?
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the unconditional love You have shown in reconciling me to Yourself through the sacrifice of Jesus. Help me then to extend grace to those who cross my path, even if I have to make an effort to do so. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.