A Good Neighbor

Another day, another intriguing prompt. We are supposed to love others. Be kind, be gentle, be generous. What does that look like in 2025?

What makes a good neighbor?

Jesus taught that loving our neighbor like ourselves was one of the two greatest commandments, the first being to love God completely and totally with our everythingness.

So what makes a good neighbor?

Biblically speaking, the Old Testament describes what it is to be a good neighbor in these ways:

• Don’t steal: You are forbidden from taking what belongs to your neighbor. 
• Don’t covet: You should not desire your neighbor’s house, wife, or possessions. 
• Don’t lie or deal falsely: Speak truthfully and act with integrity toward one another. 
• Don’t take vengeance or bear a grudge: Do not hold grudges against your fellow people. 
• Don’t defraud your neighbor: Do not cheat or unfairly profit from your neighbor.

Seems pretty straightforward, clear, and simple, doesn’t it?

I think being a good neighbor is less about proximity and more about presence. What say you?

Respectful Awareness 

They pay attention without being intrusive. They notice when something seems off without prying.

Kindness in Action 

They lend a hand when it’s needed; checking in after a storm, or an upcoming holiday, or by simply offering a smile, a wave, and a spoken hello.

Boundaried Compassion 

They care, but they don’t overstep. They understand that love sometimes looks like giving space. They mind their business when they need to and ask questions when they should.

Reliability 

You can count on them. If they say they’ll keep an eye on your house, feed your pets, or water your plants, they do it. And they won’t rob you blind in the process.

Peacekeeping Spirit 

They seek harmony, not drama. They address issues calmly, rather than gossiping or harboring resentment. Good neighbors are peacemakers and peacekeepers.

Shared Humanity 

They recognize the neighborhood as a small ecosystem of mutual care. Whether you’re rich or poor, believer or skeptic, young or old, EVERYONE matters.

Consistency 

A good neighbor isn’t just kind during a crisis. They’re quietly steady, the kind of person who says hello every time they see you because that’s who they are.

What makes a good neighbor in your book?

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

You can now find my articles in The Christian Grandfather Magazine.

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