Day 25 Kind Neighbor | Proverbs 3:27-28

Be a kind neighbor.

Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbour as much as you love yourself!’ (Mark 12:31) In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). A Samaritan was a person from a nation that the people from Jerusalem disliked (John 4:9). Jesus told his story to explain the word ‘neighbour’. In the story, a Samaritan rescued a man from Jerusalem. The Samaritan cared, because this man needed help. So, Jesus argued, this other man was the Samaritan’s neighbour. We should do the same. We should care about everyone whom God sends to us and be a kind neighbor.

Jesus discussed this subject again in Matthew 5:43-48. ‘You have heard the words: “Love your neighbour. Hate your enemy.” I am telling you to love your enemies. Pray for anyone who attacks you.’ (Matthew 5:43-44) The people in Jesus’ time thought that they should hate their enemies. But the Bible does not tell us to hate our enemies. In fact, Jesus said that we should love our enemies.

Jesus even prayed for the people who killed him. ‘Father, forgive them! They do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34) They were not being a kind neighbor.

Solomon now directs his student's attention to others. The phrasing used here highlights this as a duty: we are not to "withhold good." That implies this "good" is something we're obligated to give others. In more relaxed English, this is like saying, "treat others right." For that reason, this first instruction touches on the modern use of the word "honor," as used for meeting an obligation. Especially when something good is expected, or owed, we should actively seek to fulfill that command. This is re-emphasized in the following verse (Proverbs 3:28) This doing good, or honoring, can take many different forms.

A child can honor parents by being obedient and respectful (Ephesians 6:1–2). Parents can honor their children by not picking on them for every little thing. Instead, they ought to consider their children a stewardship from the Lord and rear them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Servants or employees can honor an employer by working hard and sincerely as unto the Lord (Ephesians 6:5–7). Masters or employers should treat their employees fairly (Ephesians 6:9). An employer can honor loyal, productive employees by granting a promotion, a gift of appreciation, or a raise.

Young people can honor and respect senior citizens (1 Peter 5:5).

Church members can honor their spiritual leaders by paying them well for their faithful service (1 Timothy 5:17) and by "[esteeming] them very highly in love because of their work" (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13).

In this verse Solomon endorses both charity and transparency. This comment flows naturally from the prior verse, which forbids someone to "withhold good" from those to whom it is due. Doing good for others—especially when it's something expected or owed—is not to be delayed. The imagery used here also suggests someone coming with a request for help. Saying "come back later," when help is available now, is stubborn and dishonest. In the New Testament, James evokes this same idea, condemning the practice of offering words to the poor without backing them up with charitable giving (James 2:15–16).

Further context for this approach comes from other scriptural commands about helping one's neighbors. The Lord instructed Israel not to reap their fields right up to the edge but to leave some of the harvest for the poor and the sojourner (Leviticus 23:22). Being a devout Israelite, farmer Boaz observed this injunction and gave instructions to his laborers to let the widow Ruth glean "even among the sheaves" (Ruth 2:15). Ezekiel 18:12condemns the person who "oppresses the poor and needy."

The early church diligently cared for the poor. At Pentecost the believers sold their possessions and belongings and distributed the proceeds to the needy (Acts 2:45). The needy at the time were Jews from foreign countries who had come to observe the Feast of Pentecost and had become believers in Jesus. Far from home, they had no means of support. Later, in a time of famine, the apostle Paul initiated an offering for the poor (1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 9:1–2).

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