Love Your Neighbor

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  –Galatians 5:14

God calls us repeatedly in His Word to love and care for our neighbors in the same way we love and care for ourselves. This kind of order does in fact make practical sense. With our neighbors, we are able to see with our eyes and personally experience their needs, thus we can understand those needs in the context of their life and community. We are then better able to meet their needs and to come to their aid more promptly, efficiently, and in way that can be sustained. As Proverbs says, “Better a friend nearby than a brother far away!” 

I am not saying that we are only to care for those right in front of us, but rather that we are most assuredly to care for those right in front of us first. Just as the old adage goes, “Charity begins at home.”  If you can not love and forgive those at home, you will not be able to love and longsuffer with those in need elsewhere. In First John, God’s people are asked, “How can you love those whom you have not seen if you can not love those whom you have seen?” God’s people are to first begin their service in Judea, and when we have been responsible there, God will lead us on to Samaria and even to the uttermost parts of the world. That is God’s order, and order matters greatly to God.

Before we look to travel the seas, let us take a look in home and in our communities, and ask God if our personal house is in order first.  In other words, are we meeting the needs of our own households and that of our neighbors.

While I was growing up, my father worked as a public defender for many years in a small community in Pennsylvania. He served as the attorney for children and youth, and he also processed private adoptions for families by giving his services free of charge.  My father never had the chance to go on a mission trip. He loved my mom, provided for his kids, and served the people of Pennsylvania with integrity all of my life.  Two weeks ago my father traveled to Honduras with a delegation of adoption experts and took part in sharing with government officials his thoughts on serving vulnerable children. His experience up to that point was limited to caring for the fatherless in central Pennsylvania. That’s how it so often works. Just as God is in the business of doing, He lifted up a man who was responsible to care for those in front of him, and God expanded his territory.

When I look back at my own life and how I have had opportunities to serve the poor and needy in the uttermost parts, I realize that my work met with success only after I had first cared for those in front of me.  Before God ever sent me to Russia to care for widows and orphans, he called me to meet once a week for ten years with an 80-year-old Russian widow in my own hometown—to sit at her feet and learn from her. I always thought it was about me learning Russian, but God has shown me since that it was really about bringing joy to the widow at home. I also learned from her invaluable insights on understanding the pains of her land so that I would be able to minister more effectively there. And before I ever took part in any of the changes in Northern Uganda, God first called me to be at home, loving my husband and children. If we do not love those near to us, how can we expect to love those who are far away?

Comments

[Laura]

My husband and I are headed to Honduras into full-time ministry to orphans on the Mosquito Coast town of Puerto Lempira ... I will add that this opportunity presented itself only after we were obedient to the call to be foster parents and adopt 2 additional children.

Like your father, I am a lawyer who is very interested in both Honduras and adoption. It would be a blessing for my husband or I to be able to speak with him and pray for his efforts. If he is willing to speak with us, feel free to give him my e-mail... fostermommy07@gmail.com

Thank you for this series on loving the fatherless. It is excellent!
Laura

[Sweet Joni]

You've made very good points here Kerry & I hope you had a great Thanks-giving with family!
For me, I look at the what's needed the most whether it's far or near... We cannot survive without water therefore it clearly makes sense to help those without it.
Then love & compassion, shoes to protect the feet... Oh, I think I answered my own queestion that I'd left in 2 posts before!!! ha Thanks Kerry for being here in God's Creation!
~joni