We Are Accountable to Our Neighbors in Their Time of Need

We Are Accountable to Our Neighbors in Their Time of Need

By Kevin C. Zell aka Chaplin Pappy

Hello friends. Today is part three of my series on why we are accountable to one another. As always while KOVH doesn’t support any one religious group, I am approaching this writing as always from my background as I write this article. So, let’s get started.

As people of faith, we are taught from the Bible that we are a people who are called to live in community, not in isolation. Therefore, this means we are responsible not only for our lives but also for the welfare of those around us. Accountability to our neighbors—especially those in their time of need—is not an optional, it is a moral obligation rooted in our faith which is taught in the Bible. As a reminder, one’s neighbor is not just the people living next to us, they are the people we come in contact with each and every day.

From the opening Chapters of Genesis we are taught that we are “our brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:9). This account comes from the events surrounding Cain’s attempt to deny his responsibility for Abel and the events that took place between them. God’s response to Cain shows us that we are indeed accountable and responsible for how we treat one another. This goes beyond refraining from harm—it requires us to actively care for, show compassion too, and provide assistance for others in their time of need.

Going back to the Good Samaritan, Jesus was asked who ones neighbor was. So in this lesson Jesus gives a lesson in what true compassion means (Luke 10:25–37). In this lesson the Samaritan took personal responsibility for a stranger who had been robbed and left for dead. He did not simply feel pity; he acted, he bandaged his wounds, He not only took him to the nearest place he also provided shelter while he healed, and then he covered any future expenses for the man. Jesus concluded the lesson to the person who had asked by saying to them, “Go and do likewise,” this instruction holds true for anyone even if you’re not religious, we are to show mercy and compassion to one another. There are more than just spiritual lessons here, there are also moral lessons to be learned from this passage about accountability to our neighbors and the need to step in when others turn away.

Further teachings upon this comes from the book of Proverbs 3:27–28 where we read, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Our accountability is measured not by our intentions, but by our willingness to meet real needs when we have the ability to do so. When we learn that a neighbor is struggling with hunger, homelessness, or emotional pain, our faith should be expressed in tangible action (James 2:14–17).

At the end of the day, our responsibility to our neighbors is reflected by our love for God if you are a person of faith. Or your actions towards your neighbor is reflected in what you value the most if you’re not a person of faith. For me and my Christian background Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). No matter what your religious faith or background, we can agree that we need to care for the hurting and those in need.

Being accountable to our neighbors in their time of need is more than an act of charity—it is an expression of God’s love through us. Even if you’re not religious this is a true act of human love for others. It is morally right to show compassion for others in need. It is the right thing to do to speak up for those who are often overlooked in our society. For me as a Christian it is living proof that faith without works is dead, and that my life needs to be marked by compassion, sacrifice, and unity.

Here at KOVH we are working to help Veteran families who are dealing with the housing crisis due to no fault of their own. We are working on groundbreaking legislation that we need to get before Congress that will help keep many of our Veterans and the families in their homes. If you would like to learn more about this and how you can get involved with KOVH please visit keepourvetshoused.org. Or if you have questions about please email us at kovhfoundation@gmail.com.