God Will Consider You A Good Neighbor If You Do This

Luke 10:36-37 - "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."  NASU 

• Show Mercy 

A lawyer was questioning Jesus about what it takes to inherit eternal life. When Jesus didn't answer his question, but rather turned the table on him and asked him to give his interpretation. The lawyer said basically love God and love your neighbor.
 
Jesus said, "You have answered correctly do this and you will live."
 
The lawyer wasn't satisfied with Jesus' answer and wanted to justify himself, so he asks Jesus another question, "Who is my neighbor?" 

• The Open Door 

When the lawyer asked the question, "Who is my neighbor?" he opened the door for Jesus to once again tell a parable that will be remembered for all eternity.
 
Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan and at the end he asks the lawyer who was the neighbor between the Priest, the Levite and the Samaritan and the lawyer says, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same." 

• Do You Want To Be A Good Neighbor? 

I would say we probably all want to be a good neighbor. Jesus informs us of how to accomplish this task.
 
By Showing Mercy!
 
Yes, the correct answer on how to be a good neighbor is to be the kind that shows mercy to your neighbors. What is mercy? It is doing for others what they can't do for themselves.
 
There is a man in this story Jesus talks about who was beaten, robbed and left for dead. When along comes a Samaritan (a person hated by the Jews) helps this man by bandaging his wounds, takes him to an inn and pays for his care.
 
Jesus asks the lawyer "which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor…"
 
The lawyer gives the correct answer when he says, "The one who showed mercy toward him."
 
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
 
So there is our game plan for being a good neighbor. Show mercy to those who are in need.
 
Think On This:
 
Why is it the best neighbors in the world are the ones who just moved away?

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word