What Should I Do For My Neighbor?

David Eldridge

The Bible often speaks of how one should treat his or her neighbor. Thayer defines the Greek word pleesion (translated “neighbor” in our English Bibles) as a “Friend; any other person, and where two are concerned the other” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Since the Lord has commanded us to act certain ways towards our brother, this subject is worthy of our consideration.

Please your neighbor – Paul, in addressing the saints at Rome, writes, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification” (Romans 15:2). We have a responsibility to seek to do good things for our neighbor so that we might build them up in edification. We do this even though they may have failings and are sometimes weak as we look to Jesus as our perfect example (Romans 15:1-3). We must not be selfish in this realm. One must seek to help their neighbor, and avoid hurting them, for “love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). Are you seeking to please your neighbor in every way you can for their edification?

Be truthful with your neighbor – In Ephesians 4:25 it is stated that the “new man” in Christ will “Put away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” As a Christian, one should be truthful with everyone. Jesus preached, “But let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no,’ ‘no’…” (Matthew 5:37). The great importance of this can be seen in the fact that “all liars” will be cast into Hell (Revelation 21:8). Honesty, is honestly, the best policy! Do you speak truthfully with your neighbor at all times?

Love your neighbor – Our Lord is quoted by Matthew and Mark as making this statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31). It is interesting that in two of these instances Jesus was asked the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus identifies the greatest commandment as being to love the Lord with your all, however He goes on to state that loving your neighbor is the second greatest commandment. Note that this second most important commandment demands that our love for our neighbor be as strong as our love for our self. This is why we would do good, not harm them, and always be truthful with them – because we love them and should treat them as we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Do you truly love your neighbor and treat them accordingly?

Who is my neighbor? – A lawyer once asked Jesus what he should so that he might inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him, “What is in the Law?” To which the lawyer replied, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said he was right in his answer, and if he would do this he would live. Obviously, this man had not loved his neighbors because, “He, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Jesus then explains who a neighbor is by the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:25-37). From this parable we understand that our neighbor is not only the person who is a member of our family, our race, our country, or just those whom we like and who treat us well. Our neighbor is every other man, woman, and child upon the face of the earth. You and I have an amazing, and somewhat daunting, responsibility to perform these aforementioned good actions to everyone, everywhere, and at all times. Let us ever seek to treat our neighbors as we ought to that we might be living lives after the example of Christ, showing forth the glory of God (Matthew 5:16).