"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."
I Corinthians 10:24
"Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."
Romans 15:2
Who are our Friends?
In the MD5 curriculum we talk about the importance of friendships, how friends cycle in and out of our lives, and the need to maintain those connections. We usually consider our friends those people with whom we have common interests.
But what about our neighbors?
By definition, our neighbors are those who live next to us.
Should we consider them our friends as well?
We all have Neighbors
Jesus had much to say about the importance of caring for our neighbors.
In fact, one of the strongest admonitions in scripture is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:39).
How well do you know your neighbors?
I realize that within our MD5 “family” we have a variety of residential scenarios. Some may live in a subdivision with neighbors only a few feet away, while others may have a rural setting with no one in sight.
But we all have neighbors.
A Strong Biblical Principle
The admonition of Jesus as well as the scripture references from the apostle Paul reveal a strong biblical principle – we need to be neighborly.
When was the last time you engaged in a conversation, helped with a project, loaned a tool, or provided encouragement to a neighbor?
Following the pandemic, current studies show a sharp decline in the number of friends most people have. Most people realize the need for friends and have a desire for close relationships, but they are not actively pursuing new friendships.
Here is where we have a chance to push in and be neighborly. It may seem old fashioned to some, but it is rooted in biblical principles.
Be neighborly and make a friend!
Jeff Riddle
MD5 Facilitator