Day 90 - 90 Days In Proverbs - Neighbor
Proverbs 14:21 [NKJV] He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.
The Hebrew word translated as “despises” means “to despise, hold in contempt, hold as insignificant.” It is that last phrase that gets my attention because it seems to me to add another layer to what it means to despise. Surely, most of those of us who call ourselves Christians would not allow contempt or despising to take root in our hearts. But just considering someone to be insignificant? – well, that’s something else entirely.
In the English language, insignificant means “too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.”
Before I go into that further, let’s review Luke 10:29-37 and nail down the whole “who is my neighbor” thing. After the lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor,” Jesus responded with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This segment concludes with the following: Luke 10:36-37[ NKJV] 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
In short, Christians should consider anyone in need to be a neighbor. We should not ignore their needs, as several did in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, perhaps considering that person to be unworthy of our attention, concern or help.
How easy is it to assume someone begging on the street got there by their own bad decisions and are unworthy of our concern (or at least our money). How easy it is to harden our hearts because we have seen TV shows that expose some panhandlers as actually shysters. Even if we don’t want to fuel a drug habit or risk helping those really not in need, a small gift and a prayer with the beggar cannot go far awry. A bag of food or some warm socks or a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning would surely be appreciated. Alternately, rather than handing over items to the homeless, we can help the shelters and non-profits that take care of them.
Whatever we choose to do, it is clear that doing nothing is not an option for a Christian. No neighbor is insignificant or unworthy of our help. And, according to Jesus, anyone in need is my neighbor.
In Acts 10 and 11, we find the story of Peter and the sheet full of unclean animals. Peter explains the point that God got across to him with this dream in Acts 10:28 [NKJV] Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Sisters, for too long, human beings who are all – every.single.one – made in the image of God have been treated as common or unclean. Whether we are talking slavery or Apartheid or a cast system or oppression of ethnic or religious groups, unfair economic practices, prejudices, Jim Crow Laws of the South, etc. Some of these programs are no longer in play, but don’t for a second think that the human tendency to treat some groups as less than others is a thing of the past.
I have seen it, recently, within the Ecclesia. These practices and even these thoughts are an abomination to God.
No human is “common” to God. All are precious. Each one has the same potential to become a child of God. You too, sweet sisters. You are children of God. We must act like it.
So, my final words to you are these: You have the power of God behind you. You can do so much more than you think you can. Be prayer warriors for others. Go out and make the world a better place. Lift your sisters up and never, ever tear them down, though the world would try to pit you against each other. Love your neighbors as yourself. Champion the less fortunate. Take care of your neighbors – whether close or far, whether old or young, whatever race, color or religion they might be.
May God bless you all.
Prayer – Lord God, provider of all my needs, I pray that you will help me to see those in need as my neighbor, as worthy of my help, time and care. Help me to have a compassionate heart toward all my neighbors and show me where and how to best help and serve them. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.
Your thoughts —
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