Who is my neighbor?

A couple of days ago my wife and I were in a bible study that was addressing the question, who is my neighbor? Before that question could be answered another question that I thought needed to be addressed is, why do I need to know who my neighbor is?


During the Christmas season it is not uncommon for us all to have our sentimental side expose itself to the world. Why do we do this? Is it because we know deep down that this is the way we are suppose to live.


As time has gone on the mention of Christmas immediately brings thoughts of presents, Santa Clause (if you have young children), office parties and family gatherings. But why does our sentiment become heightened this time of year?


Most people will admit that the Christmas season is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether you believe in Christ or not you can not ignore that his birth is celebrated and the celebration is called Christ-mas. As Christ came to this world his story is some what simple. He came to die for our sins. This act from Christ is the most selfless act of mercy and grace that I have ever heard. Why would he do that? Is it because we deserved it? NO! Is it because he had nothing better to do? NO! Or is it because God looked at us and he said these people need mercy and grace in there lives. The only way I can extend them the mercy and grace they need to receive the glories of heaven is to have my one and only son die on there behalf. In spite of my conscious decision to continue to sin against Christ, he has shown me mercy and grace. If that isn't being a good neighbor, then I'm not sure what else would qualify.





Going back to my first question, who is my neighbor? If anyone has ever heard of the parable of the Good Samaritan. I believe we even have a law named after it. My understanding of that law, is that if you are the only person around to help someone in serious need and / or death, it is your obligation to help them. Well the parable of the Good Samaritan was created to answer not just one question (who is my neighbor?), but Jesus was also telling the lawyer (law writer during that time) what his role was towards his neighbor. The parable is very simple, a man is attacked by robbers, beaten and left for dead. Let's imagine this man is a person walking along the road with nothing more than a backpack, which holds his life's possessions. Yes, he's homeless. The parable goes on, a priest comes walking along and See's the man. The priest does not stop to help, but continues on. A second man comes upon the man who has been beaten, a Levite (imagine he is a highly respected man in his community). The Levite sees the beaten man and continues on. A third man comes to the beaten man. The third man is a Samaritan (imagine him as the strange looking tattooed person who most people would look at and think they don't do much). The Samaritan then goes to the man who was beaten and cleaned his wounds, bandaged him, put him on his donkey and took him to the nearest inn. Gave the inn keeper money to take care of the beaten man. Then told the inn keeper that he would be back to pay for whatever the money he gave him did not cover. After the parable was told to the lawyer, Jesus asked him who the neighbor was to the beaten man. The lawyer said, "the one who showed mercy". Jesus then told him, "Now you go and do likewise."





Back to where we started, Who is my neighbor? Is my neighbor the person who lives next door to me, or a friend that I've known for awhile. I believe my neighbor is the person in my life or that is in front of me that is in need. I also believe my neighbor is the person that extends mercy to me when I am in need. So my second question is still unanswered. Why do I need to know who my neighbor is? If I do not know who Jesus wants me to identify as my neighbor, then who am I to show grace and mercy. What classifies someone as needy? I'll paint you a picture.


My son Cameron has Autism. He didn't choose to have Autism. For some reason God aloud him to have autism and to date has not decided to cure him of it. He can easily be classified as a person in need, and therefore he would be my neighbor.


What if prostitute tried to offer me her services? She would be directly in front of me. She has made a conscious decision to prostitute herself. Because she has made that decision, does that make her any less needy for grace and mercy than Cameron?


What about the person who has lost there job and there home and likely in turn there spirit to continue to try. They are in front of us every day during this economic climate. They have needs. Are his needs and cries to Christ less or more substantiated than Cameron's or a prostitutes. His need for grace and mercy from Christ's church (i.e. us) is no less or more needed than the other two situations.


As you go through this holiday season and the holiday season turns to spring and the spring turns to summer, and summer turns to fall, and fall turns to winter again, remember who Jesus said your neighbor is. The person who needs your mercy and grace even when you don't know there story along with the person who has shown you mercy and grace. I guarantee any person that reads this along with myself will fall into the category of the needy, but will we also be the neighbor that showed mercy and grace? Why should we be withholding our mercy and grace to others when Christ did not with hold it from us. I'm sure we were less deserving than the person or people who need a neighbor right now.