And Who is My Neighbour?

When I was a young boy, in standard three, our teacher asked us the simple, as he thought question to which we gave more than two answers. “And who is your neighbor?” he asked. One said, “Is a person living next to our compound.” Another said, “Is a person sitting next to me on my desk.” Yet another said, “is that family that we often pay visits every holiday and celebrate joyfully. The last answer, I remember, was “are all whom we fellowship together with in the same church.”

In the holy bible, we are told of a certain man who wanted to know whom to regard as his neighbor (Luke 10:29) so that he would love him as he loved himself. The lawyer had knowledge and had understood that Jesus was a teacher, teaching people what to do to inherit eternal life. The great teacher whom many had accepted as “sent from above” never hesitated to answer the lawyer whose need was to inherit the heavenly kingdom from which Jesus had descended. But mainly he wanted to test him.

In reference to the first answer, those persons living adjacent to our homes are the bitterest enemies in that in time of adversity they rejoice and say “he deserved it.” The closest people, mostly in our region, are the ones that extend the boundaries of their plots illegally to their neighborhood. Then, who are our neighbors? Where are our neighbors? Neighbors to love as we love ourselves?

The lawyer was a student of scriptures, that’s why Jesus asked him, “what is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” With breathless attention, the large congregation awaited the answer. As a Christian, a reformer on any continent that God has people who do not wish to be passed by His coming, do you identify your neighbor as an individual you share religious matters with in the church? Our neighbor does not merely mean one in the church or faith to which we belong. It has no reference to race, color, or class distinction (COL 376), no distinction on account of nationality. He is the maker of all mankind. All are men of one family by creation and all are one through redemption. (COL 386). God who made the world and everything in it, He is Lord of heaven and earth. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. Acts 17:24, 26.

Our neighbor is every person who needs our help. Our neighbor is every soul who is wounded and bruised by the adversary. Our neighbor is the property of God.

(COL 376) The Levite; curious to know what had happened to the wounded and bruised man, weltering in his own blood, stopped and looked at the sufferer. He wished that he had not come that way so that he would not have seen the wounded man. He then passed by on the other side. Likewise, the priest had done it, except the Samaritan. The Good Samaritan, who had compassion, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil on and wine; and he set home on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two Denarii’s, gave them to the inn-keeper, and said to him, “take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again I’ll repay you.”
Our profession may be as high as heaven, but it will save neither our fellow men nor ourselves unless we are Christians. A right example will do more to benefit the world than all our profession. Many will allow a brother or a neighbor to struggle unaided under adverse circumstances and yet the scripture states clearly that “deal thy bread to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul” when you see the naked, that thou cover him and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house. Isaiah 58:7-10. The Lord says, give and it shall be given unto you. He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that soweth with blessings shall reap with blessings. The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work; but if we move forward in faith, believing in the all sufficient power of God, He Himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. (DA 371)

Most of our brethren can’t understand the pain, or afflictions of a poor man who sleeps angry, yawning in the biting cold of the night without a covering. Really it is hard to believe all this and many more. It is also hard to persevere these unfriendly conditions. Poverty, extreme poverty is more than slavery. Denied basic needs in your own home. God says, in our days, the poor will not cease to exist. (Col 386) All around us are poor, tried souls that need sympathizing words and helpful deeds. There are widows who need sympathy and assistance. There are orphans whom Christ has bidden his followers to receive as a trust from God. Too often these are passed by with neglect. They may be rugged, uncouth, and seemingly in every way unattractive; yet they are God’s property. They have been bought with a price, and they are as precious in his sight as we are. “Their souls,” he says, “ Will I require at thine hand.” Jesus asked the lawyer and the congregation “so which of these three do you think was neighbor to him which fell among thieves. Luke 10:36,37. “He who showed mercy on him, the lawyer replied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7.

A certain teacher asked his students whether they were capable of joining the university without attempting the final national exams. They agreed. “Yes sir, we are able.” But then the word was not enough. Their deed in exam was very necessary. And now a pastor can ask, “are we merciful?” The Lord wants us to learn kindness, love unselfishnes in our daily lives, for we can’t come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity. (Col 384) He permits us to come in contact with the suffering and calamity in order to call us out of our selfishness. He seeks to develop in us the attributes of His character–compassion, tenderness and love. By accepting His work of ministry, we place ourselves in His school to be fitted for the court of God. By rejecting it, we reject his instruction and separation from his presence.
The lawyer acknowledged that the Samaritan deserved eternal life and so he said, he who showed mercy in him. Then Jesus said to him, go and do likewise. We are told of one generous priest who gave courage to the discouraged, substance to the poor, and his heart to God. This should be in us. Give what you have; share with brethren what God has blessed you with. To the wounded who are weltering in their own blood in this miserable world. You may wonder, “what do I have?” You have something that your neighbor is missing.

Thy brother, sick in spirit, needs thee, as though thyself hast needed a brother’s love. He needs the eye of one who has been as weak as he, one who can sympathize with him and help him. The knowledge of our weakness should help us to help another in his bitter need. Never should we pass by one suffering soul without seeking to impart to him the comfort where with we are comforted of God. Speak to him hopeful words, words that will establish confidence and awaken love.

Multitudes are so sunken in sin that they have lost the sense of eternal reality, lost the similitude of God and they hardly know whether they have souls to be saved or not. They have neither faith in God, nor confidence in man. Many of these can be reached only through acts of disinterested kindness. Their physical wants must first be cared for. They must be fed, cleansed, and decently clothed. As they see the evidence of your unselfish love, it will be easier for them to believe in the love of Christ.

Let us demonstrate our faith in the deeds of mercy, like the Good Samaritan and not the Levite and the priest who concentrated on rituals and forgot the most essential part of the living religion of Christ. Let the Lord of hosts work in us, to move us in doing this divine work for humanity, the property of God through creation and redemption. May peace and the grace of God be unto us all!
AMEN.

Charles Mogunde, Kenya