Model Neighbor

And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,  so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12

I have had amazing neighbors for the past 12 years. It has not always been that way and I can tell you what makes a good neighbor and what makes me want to move. Honestly I knew this list before I discovered this passage; it is the same list that irritates me. So it would stand to reason to heed to this list so I would not irritate others.

The list as I see it through this bible passage.

Quiet- I don’t like loud obnoxious people. I can almost hear my aunt as she screeches every sentence I can remember. I also don’t like the party animal who plays music at the craziest hours of the night and you wonder if this person ever sleeps. I don’t like the person who has constant fights every single night. So yes a quiet life is key to being a model neighbor.

Mind your own business- Kinda creepy when you know the neighbor spies on you. Or keeps asking you questions like, “what is going on in there?” or “What you doing?” this person typically thrives on gossip and is quick to tell you about the neighbors, “Did you hear that (fill in the name) is going to have surgery next week? I wonder what the surgery is for?” Let me give you some advice, if they are telling you about the neighbors, they are telling the neighbors about you.

Hard working- I hate lazy. Sloth is one of the deadly sins and I can see why. Hard work goes a long way. I will go out of my way to help a person who is hard working. And I am so impressed with a elderly person who cannot do the things they use to, and you have seen their lives and how hard they worked their entire lives. Rest, you have earned it. Let me help you.

Independent- Well all need help at times, it is just when the person needs help (and not really) and needs help and needs help and it is never ending. They never help you, they never even offer. They just always need help. I love the analogy that Stephen Covey made with his “Emotional Bank Account” which is similar to a real bank account; you can make deposits or withdrawals from each relationship. The key is to make a conscious effort to make meaningful deposits in your relationships and try to have a positive account. If you go in the red it starts to wear on the other person if you stay in the red for years that relationship is going to break. The cool thing is that when you do make a withdrawal, you can reduce the amount you withdraw by apologizing and correct the mistake (this is key, for apologizing without change withdraws twice because now they are withdrawn more for the empty apology).

We are commanded to love others. However, that always gets a little tougher when the person we are trying to love, is ignoring this passage in the bible. So don't be that neighbor. 

So why would we want to be the model neighbor, why would we want to keep this list in mind. Well it says right there at the beginning of verse twelve. So that your daily life may win respect of outsiders. Hmmm outsiders, I don’t think that means people that don’t live in your house. I think that means non-Christians. We need to be an example to non-Christians. We need to win their respect. We want them to ask the question, “why are they such great neighbors?” When they see that it is because of Jesus and his teachings then maybe they will pursue and travel down that same path. 

This song doesn't go with this post per say but it has been on my heart and in my head for the last few days and as a song about praising our Lord and the King of glory, it always has a place on the blog  and relevant to our Christian walk.