Proverb 3:29

“Do not devise evil against your neighbor;
For he dwells by you for your safety’s sake.”

God’s big picture is so much more detailed and dependable than anything we could imagine, much less plan for ourselves. I love this little Proverb tucked away almost smack in the middle of the bible which reminds us to treat our neighbors well, not to act against them with evil.

I’m reminded of two scenarios, one when I was just a child and the kids in my neighborhood plotted to egg the house next door to me. My literal neighbor. The child that dwelled there wasn’t of the popular sort. We plotted evil against that poor family. I look back on that with a sorrowful heart. How wrong we were.

And I think of my neighbors now who look out for us; and we them. We feed each other’s animals when we’re away. We look out for strange vehicles  and unsuspected passersby for the protection of one another. We warn each other of suspicious activities we’ve seen. We have exchanged phone numbers and used them in times of need. We’ve borrowed from them. We’ve laughed with them. We’ve participated in life events with them. They have even forgiven my debts. 

I believe the latter example is a picture of what neighbors should be like. If we devise evil against one another, who will look out for me? Who will be in their best interest? For we dwell among each other for safety’s sake. Our neighbors are a God-given gift of protection.

I can’t help but look at the spiritual implications of this verse. Those “neighbors” in your life are there to help protect your soul. They are supposed to be on the lookout for strange activities and unsuspected strangers. They are supposed to offer help and encouragement when the other is weary and forlorn. They should laugh together, eat together and forgive one another for the sake of edifying one another and keeping their place as stones in the temple.

We should protect one another from the enemy’s plots (leave the plotting to him. There’s enough evil schemes polluting our lives and our world. We don’t need to add to it with our own). We know because of scripture that the time will come when each one in the body is tempted and attacked by the enemy. May we act as first responders in one another’s lives to take action, battle the enemy for the weaker of our members so that when our day comes, we too, will have someone to defend our downcast spirit.