I don’t know about you, but I am good at starting: starting books, starting films and televised series, and even starting meals. And I’m good at not finishing them. Which for the meals part is probably good practice. We don’t always have to clean our plates, but I digress.

Even in discussions of the Ten Commandments, I find the first three commandments are much better known than commandments eight through ten. My point is that the beginning of anything usually receives more attention than the ending. 

We Lutherans number the commandments in such a way that a big split comes between the first three dealing with our relationship to God, and the final seven dealing with the horizontal, earthly dimension of relationships. And that is a helpful division, at least for me.

But the final three commandments, as the Small Catechism portrays them, use the word “neighbor.” No slander of neighbor, and no coveting of anything that belongs to him or her, human or otherwise.

In fact, with Luther’s wonderful explanations, the restrictions on sins against neighbor are coupled with positives of blessing one’s companions whether they are of the “next-door” variety, or neighbors around the globe. “Defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way,” illuminates commandment eight.

For the last two, we are encouraged to “help and be of service to him in keeping it” (house/inheritance). And we are to encourage wives, servants, and animals to “stay and do their duty” to our neighbor. Language that is perhaps a bit awkward, but the understanding should be crystal clear: “God gives us neighbors that we might shower the love given us by Christ upon them.” 

Knowing does not equal doing. There is the challenge. One thing I remind myself to do now and again is to pray for those who live in the homes of our neighborhood as I drive in and out. When I see Wendy across the street, or banter with Scott about his kids in Alaska, or when dear Carol gets her steps in front of our home, I am reminded to not simply talk to them, but to talk with the One who made them. The One who made us neighbors. 

Being a neighbor and loving our neighbors is about wanting them to thrive and cheering them toward that end. Of course, thriving at its root comes from gaining life. Real life. The adage, “You cannot give what you do not have,” comes into play here. You and I do have life. Real life. And our neighbor needs it. And of course, that life is a Person. Love your neighbor. Cheer for your neighbor. Pray, indeed for your neighbor. And then, by God’s grace, ask for the opportunity to introduce them to Jesus. There isn’t a more neighborly thing we could do. Those final three commandments do point to Jesus. And better yet, to sharing Jesus. 

Lord, in being a neighbor to others, help us not just to start well, but to follow our task all the way to the end. Amen!