Grace Fellowship

Dealing with people reminds me of the song Mr. Rogers used to sing at the end of the kid’s educational program. Some of the lyrics went like this, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?… I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you…So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day. Since we’re together we might as well say: Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, won’t you please? Please won’t you be my neighbor?” I can still hear him singing this catchy familiar tune in my mind as he removes his cardigan sweater!

Many of us inwardly long for the simpler days of Mr. Rogers. It provided a few precious moments of relief for moms while the kids were entertained.

The church is challenged to discover what it means to be and invite others to be my neighbor.

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” A psychologist, on an ETV special, suggested that the quality of our lives would greatly improve if we would focus on a few important things. Rather, we dissipate much of our mental energy on multitasking. We should go for quality rather than quantity. Too often times believers, living in their own world, cry out desperately “please be a neighbor to me, I need a friend.” God teaches us that we become friends by giving of ourselves not by getting others to be a friend to us.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” Many times I have listened to someone say, “I just can’t seem to make friends with people.” I once told a dear saint who blamed the church for her lack of friends, “My sister, if you want friends you must put on a ‘yes’ face. Your body language appears to be angry.” With tears in her eyes, she said, “I have been told that before.” She found it easier to leave than to confront her own insecurities with the Word of God. Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he said,”The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

What do our friends say about us? Someone once said, “When you know who his friend is, you know who he is.”

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.” (Amplified)

The opposite is true too. When we become a strong friend to those in the world, bringing them into the church, it will have positive affect upon them. We should be examples of what true friendship looks like. Many believers would rather stay in the security of their creative avoidance than to make outsiders feel the atmosphere of loving acceptance. Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t give up on you after the rejection of His first attempt to win your heart?

Our main source of friends should be believers who positively encourage us to reach beyond our circle of friends to expand its borders with new friends. In this environment we find safety.

Romans 15:7 “Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.” (CEV)

Billy Graham said, “Imitating Christ is opening the door to friendship.”

Mr. Rogers said, “Won’t you please? Please won’t you be my neighbor?”