When I was a student, Neighbours, the Australian TV soap about life in a Melbourne street, was still quite new and a daily fixture for many at lunchtime in the Student Union lounge. May be it still is. Talk about neighbours (small 'n') and we instinctively think about those who live near us, on our street. But, of course, to do justice to the idea of being and having neighbours we also need to think about neighbourliness. It is a positive idea. To me it means things like consideration, helpfulness, cooperation... The book of Proverbs gives some very practical counsel about being neighbourly. For example it says (Proverbs 3:27-29):

• Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
• Do not say to your neighbour, "Come back later; I'll give it you tomorrow" - when you have it with you now.
• Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.

These particular proverbs obviously encourage attitudes and behaviour opposite to what they forbid. Interestingly, it doesn't limit the idea of being neighbourly merely to those who happen to live nearby, so we can be neighbourly to people whether or not they happen to live in our street. This was a point made by Jesus in His famous Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37 and which He told in response to someone who asked Him, "And who is my neighbour?". For Jesus, 'neighbour' is not just another person, it is also a way to behave towards other people whose paths cross ours. We don't just have neighbours, we should choose to be neighbourly as and when we can.

These trying times provide a particularly good opportunity for being neighbourly, but do you ever wonder why we should? I think there is something in us that knows it is right but where does it come from? Especially in times of great need, why should it not be 'everyone for themselves' and 'survival of the fittest'? Why should we care about others and seek their good, even if we get nothing back in return? This neighbourly instinct is a sign to us that we are created by God and are not like animals. In fact, God Himself is the ultimate neighbour in that He lovingly reaches out to help, even save, people in need and He does so at great cost to Himself. It is why He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross.