Lonzo Green was a well-known American country singer. One day, he visited the house of his cousin, Jim. Obviously, like any teenager would be, Jim’s friends were very excited to meet such a well-known singer.

Jim’s parents didn’t allow one of his friends to come inside the house, since he was from the wrong side of the tracks. Just because his family was poor, people looked down on him, and he was regarded as white trash.

Jim told Lonzo about his friend and that although he had a guitar, he didn’t know how to tune it. Lonzo immediately said that he would like to show him. Obviously, they had to arrange to meet Jim’s friend outside the house in the street.

Jim’s friend was clearly uncomfortable and did not fit into this high-class company. His guitar was old, hanging around his neck by a rope instead of a strap.

But Lonzo wasn’t affected by how the boy looked or where he came from. He didn’t care which side of the tracks he was living and showed him how to play the guitar for two hours. Jim’s friend relaxed and started singing along.

Later, Jim’s friend became known as the King of Rock, Elvis Presley.

Clearly, there are two groups of people here. Jim and Lonzo on the one hand, and Jim’s parents on the other. For the one group, what’s important is who you are, where you come from, what you look like, and how much money you have.

For the other group, this didn’t matter at all. As the saying goes, the one group judged the book by its cover. For the other group, this didn’t matter, and they only saw the person.

^9-11But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose between these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period.

Now that’s calling a spade a spade. Jim’s parents are actually like thieves and robbers, and murderers who are in prison. They did not obey Jesus’ one primary commandment. The one that says you must love your neighbour like yourself.

Acting like this, they are like jailbirds and should be in prison.

Let’s not step into a similar trap. Let’s not be like Jim’s parents, but rather like his uncle. Let’s look past the cover. Let’s not allow worn clothes or a smell or staying on the wrong side of the tracks to prevent us from seeing them as our neighbours and keep us from loving them as we love ourselves. Then we will obey the King’s law and make a real difference.

Scripture
James 2:8-13

Reflection
Who is your neighbour?
Where have you missed loving your neighbour?
Where should you actually reach out to your neighbour?

Prayer
Father, I sometimes don’t have time for my neighbour, I must confess. I realise that then I’m no better than those people who are in jail. So please help me make time, and make a difference in my neighbours’ lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.