Year of the Bible: Part Four of Twelve Sýnishorn

Un-Common Courtesy.

When Moses gave the law to the people, he taught them how to care for the property of others alongside their own. Moses went beyond just teaching them how to care for each other but how they should also care for the possessions of others. He told them if they saw the ox or sheep of a neighbor straying, not to ignore it but to put themselves in the other person's shoes and then decide what to do from that new vantage point.

Further, think how you would feel if someone ignored your lost cat and let it get hit by a car. Our culture often admonishes us to "mind our own business." There are times that we need to, but Moses encouraged the people to use wisdom and care for the possessions of others just as carefully as we would care for our own.

This issue may seem trivial, but it is fundamental to respect, and God cares about how we treat others and their things. Dr. Tony Evans says that the instructions to care for another's property were a practical way to live out the command, "love your neighbor as yourself." In other words, caring about things that do not belong to you is a way you can put your Christian beliefs into practice.

Question: How could you take the initiative to look out for the property of your neighbor or friend?

Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you be aware of when you can help preserve the possessions of others. Ask for an opportunity to practically be a blessing to someone in the area of their possessions today!