My neighbor and her 8 year old saw me scaling a ladder and adjusting a floodlight on the corner of my home. They quickly walked over to my home and the eight year old asked, Mr. Charles, are you supposed to be up on that ladder? Guilty! A short time later, I was carrying the ladder to its proper place and my neighbor on the opposite side yelled across the yard, isn’t that ladder over your weight limit? Guilty again! I had been caught red-handed by the good neighbor police; i.e. neighbors who care! I recall when I had my heart surgery and throughout my recovery, our neighbors were amazing. They continually showed Christ-like love to my wife and me in many wonderful ways…meals, encouragement, yardwork, dog care, prayer, etc. On this particular day, they were concerned for my health and safety.
Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). Just who is a neighbor, you ask? Neighbors are our colleagues, families, friends, teammates, or whomever the Lord places in our paths. The Good Samaritan was a wonderful and compassionate neighbor to a certain man the Lord placed in his path and that others (Priest and Levite) had neglected. He journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back’ (Luke 10:33-35). The Parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates for us the need to care for our neighbor.
Consider your workplace. Who in your path needs a helping hand? Is there a need to be met? Open the eyes of your heart and see the need. Don’t simply pass by it but lend a helping hand in the name of Christ. Be willing to disrupt the rhythm of your day and help someone as the opportunity arises. It may take your valuable time and it may even cost you financially…but not helping also has a cost! It costs us spiritually in that our hearts become hardened to the needs around us.
Your workplace challenge is to be the good neighbor at work. Matthew 10:35 reminds us that Jesus went about the cities and villages showing compassion and meeting needs. So should we! Choose to be helpful, encouraging and compassionate to your neighbors at work. Do it today and every day for His Glory.