would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
What does it take to be a good neighbor? Does anyone besides me have an instant flashback to a television screen, and Mr. Rogers pulling on his sweater, while he sings? Oh, never mind. Now you really know how old I am.
This got me thinking about good neighbors, though. We've studied how we should not pay back negative things with more negative things. When they borrow a tool and bring it back broken, but offer to replace or repair it, what do we do? Snarl? Or smile?
When their kids play in the Slip-and-Slide and the water pools on our side of the fence, do we yell at the kids and send them scurrying inside? Or walk over for a friendly conversation, and while watching them play, quietly mention the lake forming on our side of the fence?
Okay, maybe those are too easy . . . what about the starving farmers in that African country that the pastor mentioned? What about the AIDS orphans in Indonesia that you read about? What about the children sorely abused right here in the United States?
Globalization, fast travel and communication, and even the ability to "google" search, has changed our perception of what our neighborhood really is. What on earth can we do about all of these far-reaching problems?
I'd like to ask for you to study on this, and perhaps look up some verses that you feel are helpful. Let's gather again tomorrow and pool our knowledge, OK?
See you on Wednesday!
Well Snoodles, this is a hard one.
ReplyDeleteThe only scripture I found that jumped out at me was Galatians 6:10
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Opportunity...by giving tithes and offerings to help with world hunger and mission workers. By seeing a need and filling that need regardless of how you feel about that person. By sacrificing your time as well as your money to help with special programs.
By taking OPPORTUNITIES to do whatever needs doing and praying God will reveal them to you.