So who is my neighbor? I believe that my neighbor is more than just who lives next
to me or who lives in my town. My neighbor is who I share space with locally, regionally,
and globally. Anyone can be my neighbor. I chose the name “My Neighbor and Me” because
I wanted to identify our neighbors. I wanted to make personal our purchases and
how it impacts those around us. The basis of my philosophy of belief comes from
the story of the Good Samaritan as told in the Gospel of Luke in the Bible.
The story as written in Luke 10:25-37 in the New Living Translation reads as
follows:
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this
question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all
your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to
Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat
him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed
to the other side of the road and passed him by.
32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed
by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion
for him.
34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and
bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where
he took care of him.
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care
of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked
by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go
and do the same.”
In Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, he writes: “If we speak of eternal life, and the way to it, in a careless manner, we take the name of God in vain. No one will ever love God and his neighbour with any measure of pure, spiritual love, who is not made a partaker of converting grace. But the proud heart of man strives hard against these convictions. Christ gave an instance of a poor Jew in distress, relieved by a good Samaritan. This poor man fell among thieves, who left him about to die of his wounds. He was slighted by those who should have been his friends, and was cared for by a stranger, a Samaritan, of the nation which the Jews most despised and detested, and would have no dealings with. It is lamentable to observe how selfishness governs all ranks; how many excuses men will make to avoid trouble or expense in relieving others. But the true Christian has the law of love written in his heart. The Spirit of Christ dwells in him; Christ's image is renewed in his soul. The parable is a beautiful explanation of the law of loving our neighbour as ourselves, without regard to nation, party, or any other distinction. It also sets forth the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward sinful, miserable men. We were like this poor, distressed traveller. Satan, our enemy, has robbed us, and wounded us: such is the mischief sin has done us. The blessed Jesus had compassion on us. The believer considers that Jesus loved him, and gave his life for him, when an enemy and a rebel; and having shown him mercy, he bids him go and do likewise. It is the duty of us all , in our places, and according to our ability, to succour, help, and relieve all that are in distress and necessity.