Three Ways We Can Become Good Neighbors

God has so much for us to learn and grow in during this pandemic. My goal has been to help my church family navigate the spiritual challenges they are facing.  

One need that is very obvious and clear is the need to build or rebuild relationships with our neighbors. The Bible teaches us that loving God and loving other people is our number one priority on earth.  

Who is our neighbor? It is an important question. Our neighbor is anyone God brings across our path. We might live by them, we might work with them, we might be their friend, and we might randomly encounter them. If God brings them across our path, they are our neighbor.  

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37,39 (NIV)

Right now, we all need to model what it looks like to be good neighbors. Here are three habits that followers of Jesus need to build into their lives:   

1. WE MUST ENCOURAGE OUR NEIGHBORS REGULARLY.   

Everyone needs encouragement, especially during these times of anxiety and uncertainty. Everyone is looking for hope.

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”  Proverbs 12:25 (NLT)

Where do we get this encouragement to share with others? One main way is from God’s Word.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit,”  Romans 15:13  (NLT)

We all need hope right now in this upside down world. Share these verses of hope with others. Be creative! It might be a verse you post online or at the office, or text to a family member or friend.  

2. WE MUST SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS CHEERFULLY.

Serving is love in action.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT) 

Now is a great time to encourage people to use their talents and gifts to meet the different needs of their neighbors–practical, physical, spiritual and emotional needs.  

You and I have heard some of the great examples of people in our church stepping up to help their neighbors during this season. We’ve had members who have delivered meals to the sick, helped with grocery runs for their elderly neighbors, taken care of kids during times of emergency, and many other ways that love in action was shown. These kinds of actions need to be part of our regular, everyday lives.

3. WE MUST SHARE JESUS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS PERSONALLY.

Everyone needs Jesus. God has never created a person He doesn’t love. The greatest gift we can share with our neighbor is to introduce them to the God who loves them.

This third way of being a good neighbor is the ultimate demonstration of our love for our neighbors. You have people that God will bring across your path that you can share the Good News of Jesus with.  

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) tells us, “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” We explain our hope through our actions but also our words. Even Jesus explained His faith. We need to as well.  

I want Crestview and all believers to be known for taking these three actions as we love our neighbors. I want people who encounter a Crestview member or a Christian to feel like they are fortunate because they’ve got the best neighbors in the world.  

That is a worthy goal for all of us.