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We live on a street of 18 houses and know most of the people who live around us. And years ago, the Lord began teaching me something very important:
If you can't take care of your next-door neighbor's need,
what you do elsewhere... can't mean much
I came to know the Mendez Family in 2006 when I had a particular encounter with their son Enrique. (See that story here) They live two houses up the street from us. And over time, through relational engagement, Enrique, his Mom, his Dad, and his nephew all came to the Lord.
We lost Enrique's father, Don Simon, last year at 82 yrs of age. He and his wife Gladys had become very special to me. And I now visit her once or twice a week to drop off a few groceries and visit.
We recently took Senora Gladys to a doctor' appt she couldn't afford and purchased blood pressure medicine for her. We threw a small birthday party for Eluco. And bought a rooster to replace the one who had died and left Senora Glady's two hens all alone.
In coordination with some Cuban doctors I know, we arranged a necessary eye operation for Enrique. (Who has diabetes) And recently, my brother Barry purchased & sent me a reinforced knee brace from the States for his use.
This is how we love our neighbors. We do things all over the city. And even in other parts of the country. But I feel convinced the one of the greatest reasons God entrusts us with provision to do 'those things' is because we have been faithful to love the people in our own church and on our own street in these pragmatic ways.
I believe in a two-handed Gospel. My Bible always in one hand, but 'always' something else, something pragmatically real, in the other hand as well.
Is it so hard to understand, that loving somebody by paying a back water bill of $18 dollars, or dropping off a bag of groceries to an unsaved neighbor, are things which open 'huge' doors to share the Gospel?
I think the key is that we don't do these things to get people to accept Christ. We just love them, unconditionally. And the Holy Spirit opens any door beyond that.
Our part is to love - But that takes relational engagement.
We don't really see ourselves 'ministering' to the Mendez family as much as we just see them as family. The rewards of that are not the results of any particular thing we may do, but instead; the enrichment our life with greater relationship.
It is said that, 'We came into this world naked and with nothing; and we will leave it in the same way.' In reality, that is not true. For though we will take nothing material with us when we leave this world; those relationships, which have found birth & life in the expressed love of Christ...will follow us into eternity!
Those relationships are something which far exceed anything we tend to call 'ministry.' They are our true eternal inheritance; purchased with the blood of Christ, that we might receive them and enjoy them to the fullest.
Such relationships are a bit like steak...
Knowing that steak is good is not the same as eating and enjoying steak. Steaks smell good when they're cooking, but smelling them is a far cry from tasting their flavor. A steak will never satisfy you until you take a bite. And a relationship can never be enjoyed until you step-out to engage it.
You may not consciously realize it, but God has a lot of custom-made relationship plans for you which you have not even begun to imagine.
I lost my Dad in 1980 and my Mom over 14 years ago. Yet God, in His wisdom and compassion, placed me on a path to meet Enrique's parents.
Don Simon was my adopted Bolivian father. (I had the privilege of being asked to preach his funeral.) I call Senora Gladys 'Mommy.' And do you know what? If I had not shared the love of Jesus with their son that day years ago, next to that football field...I would have missed these relationships and the gift of eternal inheritance that they are.
May God give you the wisdom & grace to receive 'all' that Christ's blood has bought for you. You may just find it waiting for you...right next door.
