by Audrey Bauman

Proverbs 3: 27 – 29   (NLT)

^“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
     when it’s in your power to help them.
²⁸ If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
     “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

²⁹ Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
     for those who live nearby trust you.”

You can’t get instructions much simpler than that.  People in your neighbourhood should know that you will help them out when they need you.  I hope that is your reputation on your street.

The universal church has that reputation for the most part. World Vision, Compassion International, and Samaritan's Purse are all organizations that even non-Christian followers are aware of. If you go back in history, it's been the church at the forefront of hospital care, education, and social assistance. Matthew House in Windsor is helping many Ukrainian refugees. 

I have just one question though. Who is your neighbour? I've always enjoyed talking with my neighbours over the years as we raised our families together. If they needed something, it was no big deal to help out. They were there for us as well.

But what about the people we don't like that much for whatever reason? Jesus spoke to that dilemma. A lawyer once asked him what the most important law was if you wanted to get to Heaven. Jesus replied, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all you soul, all your strength and all your mind. And, "Love your neighbour as yourself". The man thought he'd be smart and ask Jesus who his neighbour was. Jesus replied with the story of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10). In this story, a Samaritan man went WAY out of his way to help a Jewish man who had been robbed and left to die. Samaritans and Jews hated each other, and avoided each other as much as possible. 

That story sets the bar really high for each one of us. I guess I think about this because of all the crazy stuff happening lately in the news. People seem to be getting shot for no particular reason, there are so many political protests that make people uneasy, many people don't trust their political leaders anymore. If ever a Christian's values were opposite to others in our culture, this is the time. But, God asks us to build positive relationships with people even if we don't agree with them.

So … something to think about today:  Do I help my neighbour?  Who is my neighbour today?  Who is asking for my help?  Am I doing something today, or am I putting it off?

Just questions to help me think about how God wants me to live in my world.

Our song for today is Love God, Love People by Danny Gokey.