“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbour now, don’t say ‘come back tomorrow and then I’ll help you’. Don’t plot harm against your neighbour for those who live nearby trust you. Don’t pick a fight without reason when no one has done you harm” (Proverbs 3:27-30 NLT).
Welcome back dear student as the song says...everybody needs good neighbours. To have good neighbours, one must be a good neighbour. But in God’s eyes it’s not just those you live close to; the Word is quite clear - God closely watches our treatment of others. And others watch too. How we do anything, is how we do everything. “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to Love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s Law. For the Commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These - and other such commandments, are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbour AS yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s Law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the Day of Salvation will soon be here. So, remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living” (Romans 13:8-12 NLT). That’s a great picture – removing dark deeds like dirty clothes. When our clothes get dirty from working or eating, one cannot wait to get out of them and get washed – it’s a great sensation: putting on fresh clean clothes and feeling spotless. It gives you clear headspace and renewed vigour and outlook. This is what leaving behind old sinful patterns and mindsets will do when we replace them with the ways of God.
Two weeks ago, we studied how God’s prophet Isaiah, became distressed in the Presence of God at his filthiness. And how a burning coal from the Mercy Seat that touched his lips made him clean (Isaiah 6:1-7). It’s interesting that it was Isaiah’s lips that were touched, as it’s most often by the words of our mouths that we are contaminated with Satan’s muck, and that we defile others - with poisonous words. Jesus warned…. ‘but I tell you that men will give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
Sure, some folks are not easy to be around and may have a bad attitude - but that shouldn’t dictate ours! All through the Word, God specifically calls out strife, unforgiveness and bitterness because it’s against His nature and character (Leviticus 19:16-18). Even while dying on the Cross having been rejected, mocked, hated, cursed, and frankly, butchered - Jesus cried to God on behalf of those who had done this – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). They knew well they were killing Him: they had eyes - but spiritually they didn’t recognise their depravity because they were under demonic control. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory” (Romans 3:23). Strife is a subtle and dangerous trap (Proverbs 10:12). Forgiveness is there for everyone, and we need it! God desires that we Repent, and release Mercy (James 2:13; Mark 11:25). Jesus was once asked.. ‘who is my neighbour?’ by a man wanting to justify himself with his own good works (Luke 10:29). Lord, help us to not make that mistake.