THE BELIEVER AND HIS NEIGHBOUR

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BELIEVER AND HIS NEIGHBOUR

Devotional Text: Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37-39

Introduction:

The Wiktionary of the English Language defines one’s neighbor as, “one living on adjacent or nearby land”,--- as Fartex’s Free Dictionary defines it as, “a person who lives near another”,---. But, the biblical concept of the word “neighbour" is beyond someone who lives close to another, as it portrays any one who comes around one at any point in time as one’s neighbor. This, it captures in the story of the Good Samaritan, (Luke 10:30-37).

GENERAL REMARKS

From the cited dictionary definitions and biblical reference, this lesson remarks that:

(1)     One’s neighbour is one living in one’s immediate environment.

(2)     One’s neighbour is also one living in distant environment.

(3)     One’s neighbour is equally anyone who comes around one at any point in time;

(4)     One’s neighbour, far or near, enemy or friend should be helped or taken care of without discrimination.

THE BELIEVER AND HIS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS

The message here centers on social interaction. By this, the believer should learn to relate well with his neighbours, and should do so without ethnic or religious discrimination or any compromise that leads to breach of the faith or sin. For, it is worrisome to spot certain believers in anti-social behaviour. In fact, believers with such tendency, often find it difficult to associate normally with other people in their neighbourhood. For example, some believers find it too hard to greet or share things in common with the people living in their immediate environment. In other words, such believers are antagonistic, hostile and unfriendly toward others in their neighbourhood. This is not a Christian way of life. Therefore, the believer, in his neighbourhood, should learn to;

(i)                   love and pray for those who persecute him, (Matt. 5:43-46);

(ii)                 greet and relate with everybody in his neighbourhood, and not just members of his church or brethren, (vs. 47-48);

(iii)                show mercy and share things in common with people in his neighbourhood, enemy or friend, (Luke 6:30-36).

THE BELIEVER AND HIS LESS-PRIVILEGED NEIGHBOURS

The believer’s less-privileged neighbours are those in his neighbourhood who cannot afford their upkeep. These could be found among  the fatherless, motherless, orphans, strangers, widows or displaced persons, whom the Bible already urges the believer to visit in their afflictions, (James 1:27). But, the attention of most believers seems not to be focused on these cited categories of persons, who indeed, need help in the neighbourhood. This is a great dis-service to God and humanity.

Therefore, the believer, in his neighbourhood shoulders the responsibility of working for the welfare of the less-privileged, as a way of alleviating their suffering, which is a great service onto the Lord, (see Matt. 25:35-40). In this connection, the believer should understand that:

(i)                   a help rendered to a stranger in the neighbourhood is a service rendered onto the Lord, (vs. 35);

(ii)                 clothing given to the less-privileged in the neighbourhood is clothing given to the Lord, (vs. 36);

(iii)                a visit to those who are sick or in prison in the neighbourhood is a visit to the Lord, (vs. 36, etc.

THE BELIEVER AND HIS DISTANT NEIGHBOURS

Biblically speaking, one’s neighbours are those living close to one, as well as those living at distant. But, for this subsection of the lesson, attention is given to distant neighbours. Therefore, one’s distant neighbour could be one travelling with one in the same bus or aircraft, one studying in the same school with one, or one in business transaction with one. It could also mean one in any social or aggregate group with one or one, meeting with one for the first time, in wedding, party, church, social club and more.

And, bear in mind that, one expression that makes for good neighbourliness is, --- “love your neighbour as yourself”, (Lev. 19:18). In this connection, “do to others as you would have them do to you”, (Luke 6:31). However, this should not be done in expectation for repayment, (vs. 33-34). But like the Good Samaritan;

(i)                   regard anyone that comes your way as your neighbour, (Luke 10:30-37);

(ii)                 help them whenever there is need, (vs. 30-37).

(iii)                Let your gesture of neighbourliness extent to people you meet at distant places, (vs. 30-37).

In conclusion, “do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people,. But love your neighbour as yourself”--- (Lev. 19:18). SEE THE WHOLE WORLD AS YOUR CONSTITUENCY.