Finding life’s answers starts with asking good questions — of others and of ourselves. One of the early followers of Jesus knew to go to Jesus with his questions, and his questions were so powerful they were recorded in Luke 10:25-29. These questions continue to be powerful because many of us still ask them today.
Who exactly is my neighbour? How do I love them?
Jesus responded with a story showing us who our neighbour is, and what it truly means to love them. In Canada today, many of us have new neighbours and this story provides a powerful guide for us in how to love them in our own context.
Who is my neighbour?
It’s easier to love and help those who like us and are like us, but the neighbour in this story proves Jesus had something else in mind. This means that when we love our neighbour today, Jesus expected that at least sometimes our neighbour would be:
- A stranger
- A foreigner
- A different religion
- Someone with material needs
- Unable to help us in return
While the story of the Good Samaritan is given in response to the question ‘who is my neighbour?’, Jesus decides to answer a different question. He instead teaches ‘how to be a neighbour’. The Samaritan man had compassion for someone who he came across once, not someone who moved into the Samaritan’s apartment complex, a local shop owner, coworker in his building or even member of his church. Just an incidental meeting. A stranger.
It’s a good question to ask ourselves — if this is what Jesus meant, then who are my own neighbours?
God brings different opportunities to each of our lives, but neighbours in the sense that Jesus meant it will often fit one or more of the criteria above. Our neighbours are those within arms reach who we can extend love to. Love the way Jesus meant it means sacrifice, service and real relationship.
How do I love my neighbour?
Once we have identified our neighbours, we are then invited to reflect on what it might mean to love them.
- Loving your neighbour means seeing interruptions as opportunities
The Samaritan’s plans were interrupted, but he saw it as an opportunity to show love. Loving our neighbour won’t always be convenient or comfortable. We can pray for these opportunities and watch as God leads us toward our neighbours. What we allow to interrupt our plans says a lot about our priorities. Where do people fit in your life plan? - Loving your neighbour means crossing over barriers
There were significant cultural barriers between the Samaritan and the injured man—barriers of religion, culture, language and nationality. These barriers often keep people from connecting with one another, but when we intentionally break down these barriers, we show that we value others and include them in our circle. Crossing barriers often requires learning (when we learn a language or learn about another cultural worldview), but it also requires action. We can promote dialogue with other cultural groups in our churches and in our communities, partner with other organizations and create spaces for other voices and perspectives to be heard. What barriers do you perceive between yourself and someone else? How can you build a bridge over those barriers? - Loving your neighbour means generosity
The Samaritan man provided so much more than immediate care for the injured man: he made a commitment to ongoing support at a significant cost to himself. How do we practice generosity, not just in a crisis, but that provides long-term flourishing for those God has brought us into relationship with? This could mean anything from creating opportunities for those in need to acquire skills or training, helping with food relief, or being generous with our own space and time. Love looks like generosity — and it costs. - Loving your neighbour means a personal relationship
The Samaritan man placed the injured man on his own animal and took him personally to a place of safety. General feelings of love toward a group of people in need can prompt us toward financial generosity, but true love for our neighbour is personal. Knowing people by name, hearing their story, inviting them to visit our home or sharing a meal are all things that break down barriers and demonstrate that we value people as Jesus did. Learning how to build friendships with strangers is one of the most powerful abilities we have. With the help of God’s Spirit, these relationships can be transformational. If we long to live like disciples of Jesus, we will extend a personal invitation to others in genuine friendship. - Loving your neighbour means advocating for change
If we desire to love our neighbour, we want to see them flourish in life. In this story, it wouldn’t be neighbourly to continue to allow robbers to injure others on the road if we had an opportunity to intervene. Showing kindness to one person has value – but so does preventing so many others from harm! We can advocate for practical supports for those who are in need, vote for policies that are pro-neighbour and set up systems where people can receive the support that is needed. What is God directing you to change in your community to help others flourish?
We can be people of love!
You are exploring CultureCross because you are a person who wants to follow Jesus’ command to love your neighbour — in fact, you likely already are loving your neighbour! This love is a radical, transformative demonstration of the Gospel that pronounces that the Kingdom of God is here, and all people are invited to belong.
After all, we are each here because of the personal, generous, boundary-breaking love of Jesus that welcomes us to know his love and be transformed by it.
This is the love we invite our neighbours to know, and this is the love we have to share!
