Jesus knew that everyone loves a good story. He told many in his teaching ministry. There were stories about lost sheep and coins, wayward sons, and a seemingly careless seed scatterer, just to name a few. I think Jesus also knew that everyone loves to repeat a good story. That’s why people who haven’t read the Bible much are familiar with his stories. Perhaps Jesus’ most enduring story is about an underappreciated man from up north who stopped to help an assault victim after others chose not to get involved and just walked by (see Luke 10:25-37). 

As world population grows, the density of neighbors is intense, especially in urban areas. Land is expensive and in short supply, so developers build up. People really do live on top of one another. You can listen to your neighbor’s music, smell what they’re cooking, and overhear their conversations. You might even know what challenges they are facing in life.

Being a good neighbor takes finesse from followers of Jesus. We want to respect people’s privacy. We also want to be the arms and face of Jesus when people need help. When we can’t or shouldn’t avoid our neighbors, we need to assess the situation accurately. “What can I do to help you?” Then we need to be prepared to do it.

In every tragic moment in the human experience, I have seen good neighbors in action. I have benefited from having good neighbors. I want to be a good neighbor.