The Overlooked Neighbor

“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:31

Below are many verses that all send the same message: “love your neighbor as yourself” and “do unto others as you would want them to do to you.” Jesus really wanted to get this point across to us. The Bible says this strong message of loving your neighbor is the greatest commandment and also the fulfillment of the law.

But who is our neighbor? A neighbor is defined as a person, household, or entity situated nearby, often sharing boundaries or close proximity. I feel like we are missing one of our most important neighbors. Those that live in our home with us. Those that we really show our true colors to. Those that we don’t hide our heart from. We are willing to get aggravated and annoyed and frustrated with them. Way less mercy is shown in the home to those we are true to. Do you scream and holler at your kids to hurry and get out the door and then smile and wave to the neighbor across the street or the people in the car drop-off line? Do you put the extra effort in making your boss happy but maybe not do the same for your spouse at home? Do you kindly lend a pen to a classmate but tell your brother or sister to get lost if they need anything? Do you see a homeless man struggling and feel bad for them but see a spouse, child, sibling or parent struggling in the home and tell them to get over it or yell at them when they need you the most?

We all know the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35 if you need a refresher). When I first read this story, I was not happy with how people treated this man. It kept coming around, and I would continue to say how horrible these people were to this poor man and was so happy the Good Samaritan came by. But when this all came to me, I was sent right to this parable again. Have we ever been the priest and the Levite in our own homes with our own families. If we can change our ways to being the Good Samaritan in our own home, we will have fulfilled the law. We will have obeyed the greatest commandment. We will truly be loving our families. The Good Samaritan didn’t see who the man was, he didn’t ask him what bad he had done to get himself in this situation, and he didn’t think about himself. He saw a man that needed help, and he knew if he needed help, he would want someone to help him. The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor as himself. God doesn’t watch what we do to others with our actions. He searches the heart. He doesn’t watch what we do outside of our home. He watches what we do inside our own home. The heart. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Are you being honest or dishonest with who you are? Who you are is how you treat the neighbors on the inside. If we can have homes that operate with pure hearts, can you imagine the children that we would be sending out into the world? Strong kids the devil can’t touch because they know what love is. And that’s how the world changes. Quit overlooking one of the most important neighbors we have on this creation. The ones that God gave to you. They are in your home with you right now, and they need you to love them like Jesus does.

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” - Romans 15:2

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” - James 2:8

Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.” - Proverbs 3:29

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 7:12

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Galatians 5:14

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” - Proverbs 25:17-18

“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.’” - Luke 10:27

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” - Romans 13:10

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” - Luke 6:31

“Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 19:19

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” - Leviticus 19:18

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;” - Zechariah 8:16

“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Romans 13:9

“Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.” - Proverbs 3:28

“Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” - Zechariah 8:17

“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:39