When we purchased our house twenty-five years ago, a kind elderly gentleman, his wife, and their mentally challenged adult son lived in the house across the street. Our brief interactions with them led to longer talks in the driveway.  

 

As the years passed, our three sons grew to a busy age. The kind couple would watch them play from their window.

 

His wife passed away, and although he was never quite the same without her, he did his best to care for his adi;t son and enjoy life. The next couple of years were filled with more conversations in the driveway, a fishing trip, and the occasional knock at the back door to deliver a pie or bag of fresh tomatoes.

 

A beautiful friendship between neighbors had taken root.

 

His health declined, and before we knew it he was gone. 

 

When his daughter moved in to care for her brother, we quickly learned that the relationship with her would be much different. She was a deeply private person, but her cancer diagnosis paved the way for interaction.

 

Rides to appointments, trips to the bank, and running errands together made it possible for me to begin building a relationship with her. 

 

God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. In fact, next to loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, we are told to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is the second greatest command given in Mark 12:31, 

 

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NIV

 

So, how do we practically walk this out? 

 

Whether you are loving your neighbor next door, a co-worker, or the person blocking the aisle at the grocery store, here are four practical steps to help you show genuine love to your neighbor.

 

Ask God to Help You Love People

You may not be a person who wants to interact and engage with all the people! 

 

I once knew someone who struggled with loving people, so he asked the Lord to change his heart. The Lord heard his prayer, and over time he noticed his heart had softened towards others. 

 

It really was that simple.

 

When we struggle with practicing the commandment in Mark 12, we can ask God to help us. We can go to him earnestly in prayer and tell him our struggles. 

 

Sometimes we don’t know what is keeping us from being able to show kindness, compassion, and love. We can take that to God  too. He will hear our prayers and help expose what is really going on.

 

Jesus does hear us and he responds when we call on him. Matthew 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks the door will be opened.” NIV

 

Suspend Judgment

It is easy to jump to conclusions when we encounter people with different opinions.  But this is just where the enemy wants us to ensnare us. 

 

He  would love for us to be casting so much judgment that we never approach someone, or end up having a negative interaction because we have preconceived ideas about them. 

 

Jesus addressed judgment in Matthew 7:1-2, and this scripture pricks my heart every time I read it. 

 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” NIV

 

This is another area we can turn over to God in prayer. He will show us where we are casting judgment, and even give us a softer heart for people.

 

Give of Your Resources

If we really want to show love to others, we should be ready to give of our resources. Resources aren’t always financial. Many times it means giving of our time, talents, or skills.  

 

Take the time for them. 

 

They may call when we are busy, in a hurry, or in the middle of something else. We must take the time. 

 

My husband kept our neighbor’s riding lawn mower running for years. His mower was like his car and having it running was very important to him. My husband used his mechanical skills to help our neighbor, and it always seemed to mean a lot to him.

 

When we take the time to deliver a meal to someone, help the mother with a small child, or stop working in the flower beds long enough to catch up with a neighbor, we are honoring them and the Lord. Hebrews 13:16 tells us, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” NIV

 

Don’t Take Offense

I am a sensitive person, and often the words and actions of others hurt my feelings. There have been many times I have allowed oversensitive emotions to affect my encounters with people. 

 

Maybe you aren’t as sensitive, but the actions and words of other people are offending you. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love is not easily provoked or offended. 

 

As followers of Jesus, we are commanded not to hold a grudge, and to let insults go. Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” NIV

 

These commandments are not easy to do on our own, but it can be done by turning the insults over to the Lord and letting him heal the wounds.

 

Whether it be in person, by text, tweet, or even on social media, our encounters with people matter. Loving people is not always easy, but God will help us live out what he commands.

 

My relationship with our neighbor turned into a five year friendship. She lost her battle with cancer three summers ago and I will always miss her. I’m grateful for the time I had with her, and the relationship our family formed with this once very private woman. 

 

A new family now lives across the street, and we enjoy watching them care for their child, work in their flower beds, and host social gatherings. Sometimes I look out the front window and enjoy memories of the neighbors we once knew. 

 

I pray we become people who ask the Lord to help us love our neighbors, suspend our judgement of them, give of our resources, and don’t easily take offense.