Love Thy (irritating) Neighbor??

I have a neighbor that lives across the hall from me who takes advantage of my kindness. In the past I have done
a LOT for him. By the way, he is 80. Me and another neighbor have given 'Tom' a microwave, my idea, so he can prepare meals easier.
I have given him many things to help him out. This man drinks a lot and has mentioned a favorite bar he goes to. He has health issues
including gout and I have suggested to him that drinking is probably not good for him, but he continues drinking. I've left him spiritual books
to help him but who knows if he reads them.
He calls to complain about the neighbors, and says Louisville is so unfriendly, which I don't agree with.
I have done so much for him that when I can't do something he plays this pity me act. I am not the only neighbor he asks to do things for him
and they complain that he bothers them a lot too.
I feel guilty now when I don't do things for him that he can do for himself and worry about the 'Love Thy Neighbor' law from Jesus?
What should I do about this? Any suggestions???
Thank you, LK

I have a neighbor that lives across the hall from me who takes advantage of my kindness. In the past I have done
a LOT for him. By the way, he is 80. Me and another neighbor have given 'Tom' a microwave, my idea, so he can prepare meals easier.
I have given him many things to help him out. This man drinks a lot and has mentioned a favorite bar he goes to. He has health issues
including gout and I have suggested to him that drinking is probably not good for him, but he continues drinking. I've left him spiritual books
to help him but who knows if he reads them.
He calls to complain about the neighbors, and says Louisville is so unfriendly, which I don't agree with.
I have done so much for him that when I can't do something he plays this pity me act. I am not the only neighbor he asks to do things for him
and they complain that he bothers them a lot too.
I feel guilty now when I don't do things for him that he can do for himself and worry about the 'Love Thy Neighbor' law from Jesus?
What should I do about this? Any suggestions???
Thank you, LK

Do you pray concerning him ? It sounds like the lord might be using him to help you in practicing the lords ways in the gospel.

just a thought though the things Jesus teaches will be rewarded later when we get home if we don’t lose heart. It’s a good thing to learn that what others do or how they react shouldn’t determine whether we act in the ways we have learned in our heart from the lord

I commend your efforts to help this gentleman, it’s what the lord told us to do for our enemies as well as tbose we prefer. I was just wondering if you also pray consistently as your helping , for the lord to move in his heart?

It sounds like you know the scriptures but remember this part of what you already know

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:31-33, 35-36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it sounds to me like your being put into practice and use by your father in heaven and again I commend you greatly let it build your patience and while your doing things for him pray a lot for him

prayer from s true believer is a powerful thing especially when we are practicing the gospel in our life

We need wisdom. Ask God for it. Recently, I met a homeless man that I'd met twice before. The first times we offered help, but he refused. This time, he was much more open. He claims to be a Christian. He has obvious issues that he needs help with.

We helped with some money and bought him a Bible, exactly what he asked for. The cover said, "Fresh start Bible!" How appropriate, I thought. I tried to catch up with him as my friend had prepared a package for him. He was too busy to talk. The next day, he phoned me back. I asked if he'd read the Bible. No. I talked briefly about Jesus dying and rising from the dead. He said that he no longer believed in the resurrection. I told him that he was not a Christian if he did not believe the resurrection. He hung up.

Now I wait for him to contact me. In one way, the decision is made for me. I don't know where he hangs out. I could phone him again, but I won't. The next move in his.

It's not easy. Some people are users and will never change. At the same time, a young man I knew decades ago came to the Lord through the ministry of Teen Challenge. He used to boast how he conned various churches into giving him money. The transformation was incredible. This is why we need wisdom. Have you witnessed to him, given him the whole gospel? I've discovered that many will shun us after we tell them the truth. Some do get saved, of course. Then it becomes a joy to help and fellowship.

We need wisdom. Ask God for it. Recently, I met a homeless man that I'd met twice before. The first times we offered help, but he refused. This time, he was much more open. He claims to be a Christian. He has obvious issues that he needs help with.

We helped with some money and bought him a Bible, exactly what he asked for. The cover said, "Fresh start Bible!" How appropriate, I thought. I tried to catch up with him as my friend had prepared a package for him. He was too busy to talk. The next day, he phoned me back. I asked if he'd read the Bible. No. I talked briefly about Jesus dying and rising from the dead. He said that he no longer believed in the resurrection. I told him that he was not a Christian if he did not believe the resurrection. He hung up.

Now I wait for him to contact me. In one way, the decision is made for me. I don't know where he hangs out. I could phone him again, but I won't. The next move in his.

It's not easy. Some people are users and will never change. At the same time, a young man I knew decades ago came to the Lord through the ministry of Teen Challenge. He used to boast how he conned various churches into giving him money. The transformation was incredible. This is why we need wisdom. Have you witnessed to him, given him the whole gospel? I've discovered that many will shun us after we tell them the truth. Some do get saved, of course. Then it becomes a joy to help and fellowship.

I learned of a Jewish medrash that teaches, "Whoever is kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind," in an article Cruel to be Kind that leads with the heading, "Destroying evil is perhaps the greatest act of kindness possible." Of course, when I found this searching for another article teaching this same concept, the description specified, '(this is not about your annoying neighbor),' but still it could be of use in some smaller capacity., such as in trying to find the perfect balance between loving your neighbor (or your enemy) but not without loving yourself, nor your other neighbors.

I have a neighbor that lives across the hall from me who takes advantage of my kindness. In the past I have done
a LOT for him. By the way, he is 80. Me and another neighbor have given 'Tom' a microwave, my idea, so he can prepare meals easier.
I have given him many things to help him out. This man drinks a lot and has mentioned a favorite bar he goes to. He has health issues
including gout and I have suggested to him that drinking is probably not good for him, but he continues drinking. I've left him spiritual books
to help him but who knows if he reads them.
He calls to complain about the neighbors, and says Louisville is so unfriendly, which I don't agree with.
I have done so much for him that when I can't do something he plays this pity me act. I am not the only neighbor he asks to do things for him
and they complain that he bothers them a lot too.
I feel guilty now when I don't do things for him that he can do for himself and worry about the 'Love Thy Neighbor' law from Jesus?
What should I do about this? Any suggestions???
Thank you, LK

You can ask him about why he only talks to you when he wants something from you.
Doesn't he simply enjoy your company?
It will put him on his heels.

And when he asks for something you can ask him "Are you begging for charity again?"

and says he's Catholic

Yes I have prayed about this and I am getting in my soul that I should not let others take advantage of me, much as Satan takes advantage of a persons weakness. thanks for your reply

Wouldn't it be better to talk to him about the Lord?

Seems like this is a good opportunity to witness to this guy not just with acts of kindness, but also with the word of God. When he continues asking for things then he is putting himself in a position where he pretty much has to listen or just not come around anymore.

Let's face it the guy is in his 80's so he's probably not got too much time left. So he really does need to hear and be concerned about the afterlife and his soul.

He's 80 years old folks...

Are any of you guys picking up on the fact that he could very well be knocking on death's door? How terrible would it be to leave a microwave, pamphlet about God, and slam your door in this lost old guy's face and then find out he died?

I have people who call me and do nothing but complain...

Yeah, that can get irritating and negative if you listen to it for too long, but how easy is it to turn the conversation around and cut them off and start talking about God. Now after a while, they will start listening and thinking more about God or they will just quit calling because they know you're not going to listen to the complaining without cutting them off and changing the subject. They will know that you're going to be talking about God, and they'll have to hear about it and listen if they call.

That would still ultimately be their choice, but then at least you've done all you can do to witness to them through word and deed.

Love is patient...Love is kind...

I have a neighbor that lives across the hall from me who takes advantage of my kindness. In the past I have done
a LOT for him. By the way, he is 80. Me and another neighbor have given 'Tom' a microwave, my idea, so he can prepare meals easier.
I have given him many things to help him out. This man drinks a lot and has mentioned a favorite bar he goes to. He has health issues
including gout and I have suggested to him that drinking is probably not good for him, but he continues drinking. I've left him spiritual books
to help him but who knows if he reads them.
He calls to complain about the neighbors, and says Louisville is so unfriendly, which I don't agree with.
I have done so much for him that when I can't do something he plays this pity me act. I am not the only neighbor he asks to do things for him
and they complain that he bothers them a lot too.
I feel guilty now when I don't do things for him that he can do for himself and worry about the 'Love Thy Neighbor' law from Jesus?
What should I do about this? Any suggestions???
Thank you, LK

I have a neighbor that lives across the hall from me who takes advantage of my kindness. In the past I have done
a LOT for him. By the way, he is 80. Me and another neighbor have given 'Tom' a microwave, my idea, so he can prepare meals easier.
I have given him many things to help him out. This man drinks a lot and has mentioned a favorite bar he goes to. He has health issues
including gout and I have suggested to him that drinking is probably not good for him, but he continues drinking. I've left him spiritual books
to help him but who knows if he reads them.
He calls to complain about the neighbors, and says Louisville is so unfriendly, which I don't agree with.
I have done so much for him that when I can't do something he plays this pity me act. I am not the only neighbor he asks to do things for him
and they complain that he bothers them a lot too.
I feel guilty now when I don't do things for him that he can do for himself and worry about the 'Love Thy Neighbor' law from Jesus?
What should I do about this? Any suggestions???
Thank you, LK

I learned of a Jewish medrash that teaches, "Whoever is kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind,"