January 21, 2002
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Feb. 3
Being a good neighbor is not a new concept
___Deuteronomy 19:15; 22:1-4, 8; 23:24-25; 24:6, 14-15
___By Pete Freeman
___First Baptist Church,_The Woodlands
___The story goes that Norman Vincent Peale was approached by one of his church members about how difficult it is to deal with life in general and people in particular.
___Peale was asked if knew of a place where there would be no "tension or dissension." Peale told him to get in the car and he would take him to such a place. Moments later they arrived at a cemetery. He turned to the man and said: "There it is. You'll find no tension or dissension among these folks."
___We live in a world of human tensions. Most pastors spend countless hours in counseling with the hope of keeping families and friends together. Our culture is adopting the attitude that "everyone must paddle their own boat." I know Sept. 11 has changed that somewhat, but in general, even among too many believers, there is the prevailing attitude of "minding our own business."
___Jesus made famous what was said in the Old Testament about one's neighbor (Luke 10:25-37). Leviticus 19:18 is our first concise record of an accountability ethic toward our neighbors. It also is echoed in Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14. Therefore, Christians have no excuse when it comes down to their personal and corporate accountability toward others.
___Our texts for this lesson provide examples of what "loving one's neighbor" means. These laws are designed as illustrations of specific application. They certainly do not cover every aspect of human relationships, but they offer some advice on the primary ones.
___I have served as a pastor for almost 40 years. Most of that time has been spent in East Texas. One of the first things I did when I moved to a new location was find out where the coffee drinkers congregated on Monday mornings. I'm telling you a pastor can learn a lot about his community, his church and his church members by drinking coffee with the boys. They spare no one, and they take no prisoners. They are the best gauge in the world to get a true reading of the neighborliness of your church.
___Moses offers four examples of being a good neighbor. Each stands alone and at the same time is interrelated. Together they address the kind of appropriate responsibility needed in order to relate to all people with honesty, respect and mutual concern.
___Deuteronomy 19:15-21 is a fuller expression of Exodus 20:16. The severity of the punishment for a false testimony speaks about the sacredness of truth. Note the punishment alluded to in 19:19-21. Not telling the truth is a serious matter with God. When you consider it within the corporate and judicial context, it has even greater consequences. Loving one's neighbor means I will tell the truth about others, and I will do my best to ensure that judgments about other people are made on the basis of substantiated facts, not on hearsay.
___When we tell the truth, we protect the innocent. Now, that's something to think about the next time you hear someone not telling the truth about another person. Will you mind your own business, or will you mind the business of God about truth telling?
___Moses then alludes to both the sixth and tenth commandments (Exodus 20:13, 15) in verses 22:1-4, 8. The Disciple's Study Bible says verses 1-4 draw our attention to the fact the "ethical cohesiveness of a community depends on mutual respect and care of property." Just because you find a piece of property (ox, sheep, donkey), doesn't mean it is yours. The old adage of "finders keepers" is not a biblical attitude. As well, note his usage of the word "parapet." A parapet is a railing or wall of protection along a roof or balcony. Understood in the context of the prevailing flat roofs of his culture, Moses thinks it is important to go the extra mile in order to protect the well-being of others. Today, we provide liability insurance instead of parapets, and we do so not so much out of obedience to the law as out of the fear of being sued.
___Providing for oneself and others also is very important. Deuteronomy 23:24-25 stresses two issues; that of helping meet the immediate needs of people and that of planning and working to meet one's own needs.
___God is concerned about those who are less fortunate. Therefore, he gave laws that would help both the one in need and the helper. Deuteronomy 24:19-22 expresses one practical way in which people can be helped. One author cautioned the reader to note "the difference between munching from another's produce and reaping another's produce as one's own." Any social agency, whether it be secular or religious, has the responsibility of maintaining a balance between "helping and enabling."
___The crowning words given by Moses relate to how we treat the poor. Verses 24:6, 14-15 caution believers about taking advantage of those either in a financial bind or of a lower economic strata.
___Taking a man's "millstones" is to hold in collateral anything needed in making a living. Our task is to go the extra mile in helping another person. Don't make it hard on them; make it as easy as possible on them. When a person is vulnerable, we are to go out of our way to treat them with respect and with fairness.
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___Question for discussion
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