YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST DAY of the Minnesota State Fair. On my street many people came and parked on our street because we are within easy walking distance to the fairgrounds.

It’s been fun this year to see the many different people come and gather their gear, planning on having a fun and wonderful day! I always wish them the best! One young couple parked a car that I loved to see. It was a metallic orange and from my view, it looked new, beautiful, and expensive. I was happy for the owner to have such a neat looking car at such a young age.

I think my most joyous observation came with a group of five people: a set of grandparents, (probably) two more adults, and a toddler. I was enamored with the driver! It turned out to be a young woman! I was so very much impressed with her! Let me tell you! Because of one of my selfish neighbors, there could have been much more room for this tenacious gal to park; she wouldn’t have had to take so much time and care — needing to do a double-check after she got out. In this case the selfish man put his car on the street legally, but not kindly and certainly, not lovingly! He could have just as easily left it in his driveway.

Selah.

But no, he thinks he owns the street in front of his property! But: not did he only selfishly and arrogantly park his car on the street, (I promise you: I wouldn’t have) he parked it back much farther than necessary for him to pull out on any occasion because he parked it in front of his driveway!

But on to this young woman! I didn’t think she’d have enough room. I was thankfully wrong!! This young lady took her time, remained cool, taking about maybe three minutes to parallel park expertly! I loved watching her do it. As it was my time to crochet and watch television, I would not stop watching her endeavor. She was good! And she cared about safely leaving when they were all ready to go home. As she dismounted her rather large vehicle (an SUV, I believe) she stepped to the back and gauged this distance apart from her car and the one behind her! She didn’t know it but I was cheering her on! She did great! She did perfect! But, it could have been easier and quicker had the selfish neighbor been considerate, willing to share (what wasn’t his alone!) and give neighbor love!

Did I tell you; this guy talked to another fair goer (a man) and it was obvious he (the neighbor) wasn’t pleased because the guy parked up close (and not hitting) his trash barrel! I was very pleased the guy parked, left, and went onto the Fair! Yippee!

That’s my point:

 

Matthew 22:35-40
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

And that’s the truth! Yes friends and readers: I love them. I just don’t like them…

You see, I’ve already had a good idea (unfortunately) of who these people are. These kind leave their vehicles illegally parked on snow days, shovel snow also illegally into the street for their own ease only, they leave their stinky (and ugly) trash barrels out too long and put them out too soon. Or, just as mean spirited, selfish, and hateful – spreading out the barrels to keep the street to themselves!!

Do you know that some people are so very uneducated; they believe the street in front of their home is their own personal property; literally their street? So they believe they have the right to claim it, stake it out, and get angry (very angry) at those who dare to park in front of their true property. Did you know this?

Yes! They do! They believe this way, feel this way. And then there are those neighbors who do know, yet don’t care, and do as they please… Selfish!

Here comes now the Bible Scripture which applies to this most joyous story:

 

Isaiah 5:20-21
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

 

But here is their dilemma.
Pray for them!

 

Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

Yes! They are selfish. And, being selfish, they are hateful! One guy near our home on a different street even put up road blocks on the edge of the street where two cars could have parked! But no! He thinks (or doesn’t even think at all!) he owns the street in front of his private home! Stupid! Selfish! Very selfish!

Can you imagine what would happen if everyone always did this?!

Selah.
Think about it.

We are to love our neighbors as ourselves: neighbor love. Below is cited this reality:

 

Matthew 22:35-40
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

We are to love God (most don’t.)

 

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 

Selah.

So what does that mean? In part, don’t claim as yours what’s not yours. Don’t think just about you and yours. Don’t be selfish. I could go on and on. Read the Bible.

 

In fact, I am going to give you The Ten Commandments now:

 

Exodus 20:1-17

And God spoke all these words:

 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

 “You shall not murder.

 “You shall not commit adultery.

“You shall not steal.

 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

 

NOTE:
No one is saved by keeping The Ten Commandments (nor The Two.) We are saved by God’s grace through the faith He has given us…   if we accept Christ Jesus as our only Lord and Savior and prove our faith by our works. Faith without works is no faith at all.

 

NEIGHBOR LOVE
Granted, no one parks in front of my house, or allowed to, during The State Fair.
But: let me tell you: if they were allowed by governmental law, I would not only accept it; I’d have the same attitude for them… Wishing them a fun and wonderful day!

I always wish them the best!
After all, isn’t that what God has called us all to do? Love them, pray for them, hope the best for them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you know what? I’ve never seen one person in my neighborhood carrying a Bible and head out for church. Funny…
How about you?

 

 

 

 

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.