"My Neighbor's Keeper"
Do the same if you find your neighbor's donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don't ignore your responsibility. (Deuteronomy 22:3 NLT)
Here in chapter 22, God gives some clear instructions for the people to "not ignore their responsibility." This pertains to helping their neighbor whenever they have need. If their animal wanders off, they are responsible to return it. If they lose their shirt they are to find the owner of it. This pertains to anything their neighbor loses. We see this displaying the command of God to love their neighbor as themselves. If you have ever misplaced something, this command means a lot. It means that we respect the property of others & think about their welfare above our own. We consider their needs above our own.
This is a responsibility that must not be ignored. When we consider our personal responsibilities, we often times think of my & mine. We don't necessarily want to hurt anyone but we aren't extended ourselves to others either. We may think that we are ok if we are not harming others but God takes this further. We have the responsibility to care for our neighbor & to love them like we love ourselves. We are to walk a mile in their shoes, considering their needs above our own.
In what ways can we better engage the needs of others? In what ways are we neglecting the needs of those around us & therefore, our responsibility to them? Where can we better love our neighbor as ourself?
It's important to realize that Christ has done these things for us. He saw us separated from God, deserving the just wrath of God & he stepped in to take the blow of justice for us. He is the true & perfect neighbor to us. He is our example of what we should be. He saw our need & put it before himself. He is the neighbor we all should strive to be.
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