In Luke 10:25-28, a lawyer approached Jesus, asking, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded with a question of his own: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The lawyer answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus affirmed his answer, saying, “Do this, and you will live.”
At first glance “love your neighbor as yourself” seems like a simple command, but when you dig deeper, it reveals an active and intentional call. It is not just about feeling affection for those around us; it’s about loving in ways that reflect the character of Christ. But in the busyness of life—work, family, and everything in between—how can we actively love our neighbors and practice hospitality?
The Call to Love and Serve
The New Testament is filled with commands that highlight the importance of loving and serving others. In Romans 12:9-13, Paul writes:
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor . . . contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
In Hebrews 13:1-2, we are told, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The call to be hospitable is not just towards believers—it extends to everyone, including strangers and even those we don’t know well.
Matthew 25:34-40 adds another layer. Jesus says that when we serve others—feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, caring for the sick—we are serving him directly. These acts of love are tied to eternal significance because they reflect the heart of the gospel.
Jesus himself is the ultimate example of loving neighbors, and he challenges us to love not just those who love us but also those who may be difficult to love. In Luke 6:32-36, he says:
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them . . . But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great.”
This call to love our enemies and be merciful as God is merciful can be challenging. We often gravitate toward people who think like us or share similar interests. But the gospel pushes us to go beyond our comfort zones, extending grace, kindness, and hospitality, even to those who are different from us or don’t share our faith.
A Practical Expression of Love
When we think of hospitality, we might imagine a perfectly set table, a large dinner party, or hosting guests in our homes. While those can be beautiful expressions of hospitality, the heart of it is about being welcoming, creating space for others, and reflecting Christ’s love. This could be as simple as inviting a neighbor in for a cup of coffee, befriending an unsaved coworker, or offering a listening ear to someone who needs encouragement.
But too often, our busy lives get in the way. We justify our lack of engagement with neighbors because we’re overwhelmed with work, family obligations, and personal commitments. We forget that loving our neighbor as ourselves is not just a suggestion—it’s a command.
The command to love others requires us to slow down, step outside of our routines, and actively engage in the lives of the people around us. In today’s fast-paced world, it might seem impossible to make room for gospel neighboring. Yet, Jesus calls us to be intentional with our time and to look for opportunities to love, serve, and share his message.
Overcoming the Barriers to Gospel Neighboring
So, why don’t we love and serve our neighbors more?
Sometimes, it’s fear or insecurity that holds us back. Maybe we’re scared of rejection or unsure how to begin a conversation about faith. But just like learning to drive or ride a bike, the more we practice sharing the gospel, the more natural it becomes. The more we engage with our neighbors and coworkers, the more comfortable we become with introducing the gospel into our conversations.
Another barrier is the temptation to prioritize self-care over serving others. While taking care of ourselves is important—Sabbath rest and spiritual renewal are necessary—there’s a danger in turning self-care into an idol. We can easily become so focused on our own needs that we neglect the needs of those around us.
But Jesus showed us that true rest is not found in isolation; it’s found in relationship with both God and others.
Practical Steps for Gospel Neighboring
Three key components for finding gospel opportunities through neighboring and hospitality are prayer, invitation, and conversation.
1. Prayer
- Ask God to give you courage to engage with your lost neighbors and coworkers and open doors to share the gospel.
- Go on prayer walks around your neighborhood.
- Pray for the salvation of your lost neighbors and coworkers.
- Ask your neighbors and coworkers how you can be praying for them.
2. Invitation
- Invite a neighbor over for coffee on a Saturday morning. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate dinner!
- Inviting neighbors over for a simple meal is a great idea too. Even if it’s simply ordering pizza.
- Ask an unsaved coworker to go out to lunch to get to know them better (and pick up the check!)
- Invite neighbors and coworkers to College Park’s annual Christmas concert. It’s an easy win and a great opportunity to get lost friends through the church doors.
3. Conversation
- Ask lots of questions to get to know your neighbor or coworker.
- Ask about their interests and hobbies.
- If they’re willing, ask about their family background.
- You don’t have to jump in right away about faith, but if you see God opening the door, trust him to guide you into that gospel conversation.
- The most important thing is getting to know your neighbor (or coworker) and finding ways to love them and build bridges of grace that will bear the weight of truth.
Live on Mission
So, how will you live on mission this next week to reach your lost neighbors or coworkers? Ask God to open doors and wait expectantly on him to use you on mission for the gospel, for his glory.
