We once had a neighbor who wouldn’t return our kid’s balls that went over their fence. They would pop them and even yell at our kids if they went and asked for them. They were difficult people to live next to and even more so love. I wish I could tell you that it all worked out, but I can’t. We moved shortly after and haven’t seen them again. These are the circumstances that challenge our faith. Don’t wrong your neighbor, but look for ways to love them.
Romans 13:10
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.”
Easier Said than Done
I don’t know how many times in the Bible it tells us to love our neighbor, but it is there enough to realize that we should do it and also understand it is probably a problem. We are called to love our neighbors. We could debate who that includes, but let’s focus on those who live right next to us. We are to love them unconditionally. That means we do it whether they love us back. It is a demonstration of our faith in Jesus, and it keeps us humble.
A Challenge to Live With
Paul tells us that love does no wrong to a neighbor. Why does he say neighbor? We can choose our friends, but we usually can’t decide who lives next to us. He understands that people are challenging to live with. All of us have had that neighbor that unbearable. We might even be that neighbor. All we want to do is avoid that person at all costs; we might also harbor feelings of getting back at them for something they have done to us. True love does no wrong to anyone. We are called to love everyone because it is the fulfillment being devoted to Jesus
Don’t Wrong Your Neighbor
Love is often the biggest test of our faith. We can give our time, but it is much harder to give our hearts to someone who might hurt it. I want to encourage you to push through those feelings. If you have hurt someone go and ask forgiveness and make things right. When we love our neighbors, we are most like Jesus.