The Second Greatest

As reported on Fox News today:

It took nearly seven hours, the demolition of a bathroom, and a sturdy
extension ladder for rescue workers to remove a more than 700 pound woman from her home here [Trenton, NJ], officials said.

... she had fallen and injured herself in her second-floor bathroom...

Firefighters eventually had to dismantle the toilet and radiator, then saw
out a part of the bathroom wall and window to create a large enough space to
move the woman out.

The woman was taken to [a hospital] in Trenton where she was reported in fair
condition Tuesday... It appeared the woman hadn't been downstairs since autumn
(of 2006), although she was able to move herself to the bathroom (thank
goodness).

Now this is the part I don't want you to miss:

A neighbor three doors down who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years, said she only saw her neighbor ONCE early last year. She said the woman drove a van, parked it, and quickly walked into the house. She stated that older neighbors, such as herself, usually avoid asking about the affairs of newcomers. But after seeing her street crowded with emergency vehicles, she thought that might change.

"We, as neighbors, should have been more abreast of what goes on," She said.

Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Saducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

Jesus sums up centuries of Law and oral traditions in two seemingly simple rules: love God and love people. But as our society becomes more individualistic we tend to isolate ourselves farther and farther from one another. Everything we do from building elaborate decks onto the privacy fenced-in back yards of our homes to building our own swimming pools and game rooms and movie viewing rooms in our houses tends to draw us out of community and into the glorious world of autonomy.

The difficulty, however, is that we need one another. The Bible is very clear that Christianity is not meant to be practiced in a vacuum, but with other believers. In addition, the good works that are produced as a fruit of our faith are meant to be for the benefit of others, both within our churches and without. As a believer you are called to 1) Make disciples of the nations (this includes those in your neighborhood) and 2) Be salt and light to the world. Now the last time I checked, salt does absolutely no good unless it comes into contact with something, and who better for you to impact than those who live around you.

I asked a group of LifeGroup leaders a while back how many of them knew their neighbors. Very few knew all of their neighbors on all sides. If we are to fulfill the second greatest commandment, then we must be willing to stretch ourselves and interact with those who live around us. So the next time you decide to rent a movie, why don't you go down to the local theater instead, or have your neighbor over to watch it with you. The next time you decide to sit out on your back porch, sit out on the front porch (or in your front yard) instead. When you are deciding who to invite over to your house for dinner this weekend, why not your next door neighbor. God has placed you in the neighborhood you are in for a reason. You never know who may need a word of hope from Jesus... they probably are living right next to you. And you, as a good neighbor, should be more abreast of what goes on.