3 Ways to Be the Best Neighbor

Do you ever feel like you get caught up in the speed of life and miss the people along the way?

You're not alone.

Life is busy.

We can list why we are busy with kids, work, appointments, school, and church activities. Still, there is no doubt that in life's busyness, we miss the people God has placed around us in our coming and going.

Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. A priest and Levite were too busy to help a wounded and naked man along the road they were traveling. So, while the priest and Levite told the wounded and naked man their position and beliefs with their dismissive actions, the Samaritan engaged the man with courage, vulnerability, and a posture of unconditional love and generosity.

Think about it like this: if we are the wounded and naked ones, then Jesus is our true Good Samaritan. Jesus was wounded for us, and by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus was stripped naked for us so that we could generously receive everything we need for life with Him both now and into eternity. And we are now the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus on earth… the body of Christ for the world to see and experience our true Good Samaritan.

Jesus wants all of His neighbors to experience His mercy through His body, the church (you and me).

So, how do we become the best expression of Jesus, our Good Samaritan for our neighbors and community?

That's why the second of our three priorities is to be the best neighbors by personally knowing, caring for, and serving our immediate neighbors.

Here are three ways we can begin.

Use the Neighbor Map Tool to learn your neighbor's names, stories, and circumstances.
Being a good neighbor begins with awareness. Using the Neighbor Map Tool, write the names of the people around you. Suppose you live in a community like an apartment complex, senior living, or dormitory. In that case, these people live down the hall or above/below you. If you live in a neighborhood, these people live within walking distance from your house. If you live in a more rural setting, these people live in the homes you drive by as you head into town.

After you learn their names, invite them over for coffee or lunch… or a playdate if you both have kids. You aren't obligated to do it again, but you might surprise yourself and want to do it again. After they leave, add something about them to your Neighborhood Map Tool - a story or circumstance you relate to and how you will pray for them.

I've used versions of the Neighbor Map Tool for over 10 years and have not only met some incredible neighbors but have had the opportunity to be merciful and love them as Jesus loves them.

Everybody wins when we engage in social issues with Jesus.
It's becoming a little toasty when it comes to issues like gender, sexuality, reproductive rights, immigration, and a plethora of other topics we can scroll through on our feeds. I'm pretty sure the Samaritan didn't check the wounded and naked man's position on any number of issues before showing him mercy and love. I'm glad Jesus doesn't do that to us, either… and neither should we.

Engaging in social issues is more like keeping a conversation than advocating for a position. It adopts a humble, curious posture and is open to discovery (like Jesus) rather than ensuring others know right and wrong. It looks like having the courage to embrace ethnic and socio-economic diversity as differences rather than social disorders.

I'd love to help you develop this skill. Reach out to me at pastortim@oslc.com to start a conversation.

The good news is that God's Word engages every social issue with Jesus, who is full of grace for those who get it wrong and truth for those who think they have it right.

Everybody wins when we engage in social issues with Jesus.

Let's Serve
Like Jesus, our Good Samaritan, we can show mercy by generously giving our time, talents, and finances to help our neighbors.

You can plan a neighborhood Faith in Action project to meet a specific neighbor's needs. From helping make and provide meals to relieve some stress during an unsettled time to yardwork and house projects - Faith in Action has you covered. Reach out to Kristi at kristi@oslc.com to get started.

Vision is always caught more than taught, so I'd love to engage with and listen to what excites you about what "being the best neighbor" means to you. Please email me at pastortim@oslc.com, or let's connect over coffee or tea.

Next week, I'll wrap up our What's Next series, focusing on how to champion leaders of all generations together.

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