A Good Neighbor
One day an expert of the Law of God asked Jesus a critically important question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” To which Jesus responds, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” The expert of the law asked a very self-centered question and Jesus gave him a selfless response. Why do we focus so much on “what’s in it for me”? Why is it so hard to put our neighbor first? I want to be a good neighbor but I don’t prioritize it. I wish I could be like Mr. Rogers, who would often sing this song:
It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we’re together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please,
Won’t you please,
Please won’t you be my neighbor?
This is a song I grew up listening to on the show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. If you aren’t familiar with the show it was created by Fred Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, who wanted to emphasize educating the social and emotional needs of preschoolers. The show took place in Mr. Rogers’ make believe neighborhood and each episode tackled various topics such as the death of a family pet, sibling rivalry, the addition of a newborn into a family, moving and enrolling in a new school, and divorce. What I recall most about the show was that Mr. Rogers referred to every neighbor as his friend and no one went unnoticed. Because of this I wanted to be Mr. Roger’s friend and neighbor.
God calls us to be good neighbors that puts love for one another above of love for one’s self. Could you imagine what the world would be like if everyone put their neighbor first? I imagine it is the world God desires for us all. I imagine it is what Heaven looks like. When the expert of the law asked how to inherit eternal, he couldn’t see it because he couldn’t see passed himself. Today see passed yourself, look to loving your neighbor.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
