My wealthy neighbor decided he no longer wanted to pay his mortgage, so he left our neighborhood for a larger home. His former house has gone into foreclosure, which lowers the value of my home, for foreclosed homes normally sell far below what the market is dictating. He also stopped paying his association dues for the upkeep of our neighborhood—causing me and other neighbors to have to pick up the cost. My neighbor would deny that he has done anything wrong, but his selfish act has stolen money from the people in my community.
Loving your neighbor means offering a friendly wave when you pass on the street or lending a hand during a heavy snowfall. But that counts little if you break the most basic promise to pay your mortgage and to protect the property values of your neighborhood, simply out of personal convenience.
The Old Testament commanded Israel to “not defraud or rob your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:13), and Paul added, “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:10).
I can plainly see how my neighbor has let me down (Leviticus 25:17), but I wonder how I’ve been unloving toward others. Do I pull my weight with household chores, bring my share to potluck dinners, and fill my role on the team?
I also have a new appreciation for the unspectacular, persistent love of others. Perhaps you had a dad who didn’t write eloquent notes of tender love, but he worked hard to provide a roof over your head and food on your plate. That was his way of loving you, with a love more solid than flowery words.
Nothing says love like the dependable, daily act of showing up. Love your neighbor and, if necessary, use words.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 10:24-48
More:
Read Romans 13:1-10 and consider why Paul discusses paying taxes alongside the command to love one another.
Next:
Who has loved you in such a quietly dependable way that you failed to recognize it? Let them know that you do!
renmandfx on October 24, 2011 at 6:33 am
A poem I’ve long taught on this very topic:
Those Winter Sundays
By Robert Hayden
Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?
mike wittmer on October 24, 2011 at 11:34 am
That’s a great poem! I think that fathers need to try to find their words, but we also need to appreciate the many ways they do show us love.
GChoo on October 24, 2011 at 8:31 am
Mike, thanks for reminding us how and what it means to God to love our neighbours.
In this age of advanced in technology especially the internet, we can slowly make ourselves to be isolated. We can get knowledge (good and bad) very quickly at the press of some buttons. We don’t need to physically talk to people face to face if we choose to. Sometimes we have somehow lose the skill (or can’t be borthered) to interact with others, even our own family. This has somehow created a very superficial relationship and may lead us to act selfishly. Even for us christians, if we do not stay close to God’s Word daily and obey His teachings, we can also fall into the traps of this world.
May we continue to pray and obey God’s teachings because He is our Provider. Amen.
mike wittmer on October 24, 2011 at 11:36 am
Do you know what convicts me? Our increasingly isolated society prevents us from even having the opportunity to love our neighbor. In this way, we can run through an entire day with very few chances to live as a Christian. Yikes!
duaneriley on October 24, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I don’t mean to be self-righteous, but in a time of economic meltdown, with many people unemployed and homeless, it seems strange as a christian to be concerned over the possible reduced value of your home.
(or the reduction in your accumlated wealth).
I wonder did you ever witness to your wealth neighbor about Jesus. If not that is the really sad and regrettable event.