Living in God’s Neighborhood
Discovering God’s Riches in Relationships
30. And Jesus answered, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes, and wounded him, and left him half dead.”
31. “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”
32. “And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”
33. “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.”
34. “Which now of these three do you think, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?”
37. And he said, “He that showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and you do likewise.”
Luke 10:30-34, 37
Neighborhood Fantasies
We all share the similar desire to live in a neighborhood that is safe, friendly, and prosperous. Very few would choose a place that presents problems or is lacking in housing quality. In other words, we choose not to live in a poor neighborhood. Bad things happen in “The Hood.” There are gangs in those places. There is gambling in those places. There is a great deal of immorality in those places. There is violence in those places. For that reason, people do all they can to get out of “the Hood” and from there, they try to avoid that part of town if at all possible.
What if a neighborhood does not consist of income levels and housing styles, but by the people who value one another. In other words, the condition of the neighborhood is not determined by the age of the home but the character of the people. What if it were a poor village, and yet all the people cared for one another. Would that be a good neighborhood? What if the people greeted each other with kindness and would share meals together on a regular basis; would that be a good neighborhood? I’m afraid that the Western culture has wrongly described “good neighborhoods.” This culture has fallen for the myth of riches in defining what it means to live in a good neighborhood. As a result, many well intentioned people have written certain people off as bad just because they live in a place “less fortunate.” How pathetic!
As a result of prejudice toward “economically defined neighborhoods,” well intentioned people look down on certain people because they are from “the Hood.” They make the mistake of thinking that God would never send them to such places because “those people” are hopeless. I find it ironic, that many missions are directed at the heathen in other countries and yet there are heathens in our own land. Some of which live in “good neighborhoods.” Yet Jesus invites us to share His Love and Mercy everywhere. Jesus invites us to go into places and care for people from all neighborhoods. It is His Grace (and not our preference) that makes the difference. So, with that, we will attempt to describe what it looks like to live in God’s Neighborhood. To make it interesting, let us start with describing it as a place where people need each other. Second, let us describe God’s Neighborhood as a place where there are trials as well as triumphs. Thirdly, let us describe God’s Neighborhood as a place where God is needed.
Jesus Taught – Be a Good Neighbor
The parable of the Good Samaritan is more than an observation of how different people treat others in need. In this parable, Jesus teaches some practical lessons on how to be a good neighbor. This brings us front in center in defining God’s Neighborhood as a place where people need each other. Both the priest and the Levite saw a person in need and did not respond. They were in God’s Neighborhood but chose to ignore and walk away from an opportunity to be a “good neighbor.” Jesus did not disclose their motives for not responding to their need. It could have been they were too busy. It could have been they were not familiar with the person in need. It could have been that they knew the person and felt they got what they deserve. The point is not whether they had a good excuse to not help the person. The real point is that they did not respond to the man’s need.
As we experience God’s Neighborhood on this earth, we must recognize that it is a place where we are invited to share with those in need. The Samaritan, people who were despised by the Jewish community, travelled the same area that the Priest and the Levite had also traveled. Yet, that Samaritan displayed a character quality that is needed if we are to be a “good neighbor.” He displayed compassion. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. That compassion made the difference between action and inaction. So, here is the lesson. We cannot be a good neighbor and respond to needs if we don’t have compassion.
Compassion is a powerful thing. In this passage, it is the defining factor in responding to people in need. Compassion is lacking in our day and yet it is freely given to everyone who asks. Compassion comes from God. Compassion is the first resource God gives for us to respond to people in need. Yet people don’t utilize it because they either avoid the Jericho Road (as a bad neighborhood) or they rush past the Jericho Road on their way to their destination. Such responses show a lack of compassion. Compassion considers the fact that “it could have been me.” Remember, the Command of God says to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” That means to consider yourself as the person receiving the help. When compassion becomes our driving force, it will make us a good neighbor.
We also express the “Good Neighbor” concept by recognizing that there are trials as well as triumphs. Stuff happens in life. If it is not happening to you, it is happening to someone. No one knows when trouble is going to hit. No one knows when a crisis is going to take place. The bombs that are falling in some war torn land could fall on our heads next. We just don’t know. Some of you are probably thinking, how could that happen in God’s Neighborhood? The fact is, on this earth, we are fighting to reclaim the territory that the enemy has stolen. There is an all-out war declared by the forces of Hell. The saints of God are not exempt. If Jesus did battle then His Body is also called into the fight. The fight is on and either you are joining the fight, or you are considered A.W.O.L. So, be a good neighbor serving the person in harm’s way.
The Samaritan responded to the need. He first did emergency care to bandage the injured person. We are called to “stop the bleeding.” People are bleeding and yet the response of many is either to ignore it or handle it remotely. Don’t expect to perform God’s work without getting your hands dirty. Remember that person in need could very well be us, but it could also be Jesus in disguise. Jesus taught another parable where the question was asked, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, in prison, homeless, and naked?” Jesus responded by saying, “In as much as you have done it to the least of these, My brethren, you have done it unto Me.” Jesus places Himself as the One in need. So, be a good neighbor and help Jesus out.
Jesus Shows Up in the Neighborhood
The other “neighborhood concept” that is difficult to grasp is the fact that God is among us even as we struggle. Most people don’t think about God dwelling in bad neighborhoods and yet that is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that we can find God in the hard places in life. The Bible says, God was with Joseph in the prison. God was with Daniel in the lion’s den. God was with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. God was with Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. “God with us” does not always guarantee a state of bliss and ease. God is with us in this troubled world. Isn’t that the focus of our prayers, that God would be with us in this life.
The parable of the Good Samaritan also infers that God was with the Samaritan as he performed acts of kindness to the wounded man. Compassion is not something that comes from human character. It comes from the heart of God. This is the point: while we are waiting for God to move, He is waiting for compassion to move us to action. God will then, be with our hands and our feet as we proceed to carry out His will. While those in need may cry out to the Lord for help, God usually sends someone to conduct the business of caring and curing. I believe the Lord sends people to those Jericho Road situations in order for willing servants to have the honor God working through them to accomplish His will. In doing this, God people serve as Ambassadors of Grace.
There is a joke told about the man who needed help during a hurricane. So he called out to God to send help because his house was flooding. A boat came by and offered to take the man to safety. He refused, saying the Lord was going to help him. The boat left and the man continued to ask God to send help. So, a larger boat came by, and the captain asked the man to climb aboard. He declined and said the Lord was going to rescue him. The man called out to God again to send help. This time a helicopter flew over and dropped a line for the man to climb aboard. Well wouldn’t you know it, he refused again. The man died and one of the first questions he asked when he got to Heaven was, “Lord, why didn’t you save me from the flood?” The Lord answered, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter, but you refused them.” The moral of the story is that God can come personally, but oftentimes He equips people to do His work. By the way, the name of those people is called the Body of Christ. We are His Church and His Hands. This does not mean that God cannot respond to needs. He does that. But like a Good Neighbor, Jesus goes to work through the efforts of those who belong to Him and those who believe on Him. Closing question: Is God using you to be a “good neighbor?”