Reading: Matthew 22:34-40
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right” (Js 2:8)
Neighbours are people in our circle. The Bible teaches us a lot about being a good neighbour. Dorcas and Lydia had good relationship with their neighbours. Let’s see how —
Since neighbours are close to us, it is easy to step on their toes. As early as 4000 years ago, God gave us instruction about our neighbours: “Do not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour” (Ex 20:17). We need a lot of self-control in this area, especially in the matter of sex (1 Thess 4:3-9). Beware. It destroys friendship with your neighbour. Avoid even emotional involvement. It destroys your family life.
Paul says that neighbours are members of one body and we must be transparent to them avoiding lies but speaking the truth (Eph 4:25). Honesty is the best policy. That helps our neighbours to trust us. It is not just chatting across the wall but upholding them when they fail. Our natural tendency when our neighbour fails is to put a distance between us. But instead if we uphold them in their failure, forgive them and may be rebuke them and build them up, we will be pleasing them (Rom 15:1,2; Lev 19:17).
We should not become a nuisance to them by frequently visiting them and asking for this or that. They’d become tired of us and hate us. People’s privacy should be respected. We should not linger in their house for long (Prov 25:17).
Because of proximity, our neighbours tend to leave their things with us for safe-keeping, even their housekey, when they go out. If we accept the responsibility we should be extremely vigilant to keep their things, take care of their children or animals. If anything happens to their things we should apologize and make restitution.
Neighbours are better than brothers because of closeness. For any emergency they are the ones we can count on rather than our brother. So be a good neighbour on whom one can lean on in times of trouble (Prov 27:10).
A good neighbour is someone who smiles at you over the backyard fence, but doesn’t climb over it!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Reading: Matthew 22:34-40
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right” (Js 2:8)
Neighbours are people in our circle. The Bible teaches us a lot about being a good neighbour. Dorcas and Lydia had good relationship with their neighbours. Let’s see how —
Since neighbours are close to us, it is easy to step on their toes. As early as 4000 years ago, God gave us instruction about our neighbours: “Do not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour” (Ex 20:17). We need a lot of self-control in this area, especially in the matter of sex (1 Thess 4:3-9). Beware. It destroys friendship with your neighbour. Avoid even emotional involvement. It destroys your family life.
Paul says that neighbours are members of one body and we must be transparent to them avoiding lies but speaking the truth (Eph 4:25). Honesty is the best policy. That helps our neighbours to trust us. It is not just chatting across the wall but upholding them when they fail. Our natural tendency when our neighbour fails is to put a distance between us. But instead if we uphold them in their failure, forgive them and may be rebuke them and build them up, we will be pleasing them (Rom 15:1,2; Lev 19:17).
We should not become a nuisance to them by frequently visiting them and asking for this or that. They’d become tired of us and hate us. People’s privacy should be respected. We should not linger in their house for long (Prov 25:17).
Because of proximity, our neighbours tend to leave their things with us for safe-keeping, even their housekey, when they go out. If we accept the responsibility we should be extremely vigilant to keep their things, take care of their children or animals. If anything happens to their things we should apologize and make restitution.
Neighbours are better than brothers because of closeness. For any emergency they are the ones we can count on rather than our brother. So be a good neighbour on whom one can lean on in times of trouble (Prov 27:10).
A good neighbour is someone who smiles at you over the backyard fence, but doesn’t climb over it!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
