How do you learn to be a good neighbor? What is the easiest way to understand what it means to be a good friend? Do you know what it takes to be a good mentor?

I think one of the quickest ways to learn these things is by example — by having a good neighbor, friend, or teacher.

I lived in an apartment building for many years. It was cheaply built so I wasn’t protected well from the sounds of my neighbors. And I lived in the middle of the building. I had neighbors above me, below me, to the right, and to the left.

I learned very quickly what made a neighbor “good” and what made a neighbor “bad” in those close quarters. My good neighbors were considerate. They kept the volume of their music or TV low, knowing how noise carried in the building. My good neighbors above me took off hard shoes when they got home and rarely ran or jumped around. Good neighbors even sometimes shoveled the snow from in front of my door when they shoveled theirs. They introduced themselves when I moved in and made an effort to get to know me a little as time went by.

The bad neighbors were just as easy to learn from. The bad neighbors turned the volume up high and ignored reasonable requests. They parked poorly making it difficult to navigate the small parking lot. They never said hello or acknowledged the existence of their neighbors. They slammed doors, littered in the common areas, and inexplicably chose the middle of the night to rearrange their furniture or do a jumping-jack workout.

Knowing these things about my neighbors and how they improved or spoiled my apartment experience, I had a choice to make. Did I want to live like the good neighbors or the bad ones? Whose example would I live by?

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25,‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

This world is like one big apartment building. We all have to live here together. And I can decide to be a good neighbor or a bad one. Every interaction I have is an opportunity to choose.

There are plenty of examples of bad neighbors to be had. So many! Worse yet, sometimes these bad neighbors pretend they are good neighbors. They claim what they are doing is right and good, when it’s really only right and good for themselves. They lie and put on a show of neighborliness while stealing your mail or your wifi or the packages delivered to your door.

Fortunately, Jesus came to earth to show us what a good neighbor is like. He modeled it for us. He was the perfect neighbor. More than a neighbor, He showed us what a loving friend does. This is exactly why He came. He gave us the example to live by and then said, “Go and do likewise.”

Dear God, thank you so much for sending Jesus to be the model of a good neighbor and friend that I am to emulate. Thank you also for sending your Spirit to live in me to help me live like Jesus. Open my heart to hear the Spirit’s corrections, admonitions, and loving encouragements. I want to be a very good neighbor to everyone you send into my life. Give me the strength and wisdom I need today.