“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."
Matthew 22:36-39
Who is my neighbor?
Neighbor is often defined as a person living near or next door. But that's not exactly what Jesus meant. The biblical definition of neighbor is the coming alongside someone. Someone, anyone...... EVERYONE......not just next door or across the street. And did you catch the part "love your neighbor AS YOURSELF"? I'm taking a class on the book of James. James 2:8 states,
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
Quite a few of the students had a bit of trouble interpreting the "love yourself" part. What does that mean? How do we learn to do that? I loved the professor's reply. He stated quite simply that he believed that whether we think it or not we already love ourselves. It's not something you learn, it's inherent (existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute) I really appreciated that statement. It gave me a lot to think about. At some level, I think we all know it to be true.
When we moved into our house after our honeymoon, I was 21 and my husband was 23. Our neighbors next door had kids nearly our age. Up until the time of my husband's death they served well as our surrogate parents for over 30 years. We had many "at the fence" conversations. They were and are still deeply affected by my husband's death. They told me they would watch over me. And they have with great care. Really precious. I love them. So casual are our conversations at times....from baking to fishing...and then sometimes serious like health issues and prodigal children. With each conversation, each kind word, each immense serving of compassion and kindness, I come away loving them more. 67% of my life has been lived as their neighbor.
If I use my relationship with my neighbor to model what it looks like to love your neighbor (the people God puts in your path), what does scripture says it looks like:
Leviticus mentions it first:
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18
•Forgive (Matthew 6-14-15)
•Love one another (John 15:12)
•If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
•Please and build up (Romans 15:1-12)
•Carry each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
•Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving (Ephesians 4:29-32)
•Look to other's interests (Philippians 2:4)
•Be compassionate, have humility, meekness, patience (Colossians 3:12-14)
•Respect (1Timothy 5:12)
•Don't be partial (James 2:1-3)
•Honor (1 Peter 2:17)
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18
If I think about my "mission field" or my "circle of influence"...these would be people I have the opportunity to love everyday. Not just waving as I go to the mailbox but those I cross paths with at Walmart, the eye doctor, the hair salon, dog groomer, friends, family, strangers, acquaintances....it could mean calling someone, sending a text or simply smiling. There's an awareness, a desire, a sense of responsibility. To love others doesn't always mean a grandiose, seen-by-many, outreach. In fact, nobody may see it at all. Have you ever gathered a few grocery carts from a parking lot and returned them to where they belong instead of leaving them go saying, "It's his or her job. They can do it." Can you imagine the blessing to the one who is responsible for gathering them in the pouring rain or in sub zero temperatures? Can you just imagine the impact it would make if everyone did a small act of loving their neighbor each day?
I read what was supposed to be a "joke" but I felt it was really telling of how we often seek to "teach" someone a lesson...
A man was in a drive through and evidently was taking too long to order. The person behind him was obviously angry. So when it came time to pay he paid also for her order. Really nice, right? When she realized that he had paid for her order she was pleasantly surprised and probably a bit embarrassed...but when she got to the next window to pick up her order she had discovered that the man took her order as well. His lesson to her was that since she was so impatient she would have to get back in line and wait again. He sure showed her didn't he? My thought was how much more impactful and convicting might it had been for her the next time she felt impatient when she thought of how kind that man was to pay for her meal. I know, it's just a joke but I was convicted....I've been the impatient one! 😳
We all fall short of the glory of God....none of us is righteous, not one. Hence, why we are in need of a Savior. As I have loved and cultivated a close bond with my next door neighbor, I'm well aware that there is another neighbor that I really struggle with. A long history of battles. It burdens me. Each time I try...I get angry and frustrated....he's not a nice man and has a mouth like a.....well....not.....hmmm....nice. Sometimes loving others is not reciprocal. I don't believe there is a verse in scripture that says love others IF they love you back OR treat others the way you want to be treated IF they treat you the way you treat them. See, these verses, for the Christ follower are commands. DO IT!! We don't get a pass..... nor are we perfect.....nor do we never not struggle.
I think about my "not so nice neighbor" all the time. There is deep conviction. I try, get stung, and with God's courage, I try again....and again....and again.
Being the hands and feet of Jesus can be quite easy if you're simply saying, "Have a nice day." Sometimes it IS that easy. But sometimes it isn't. Sometimes we are called to love the unlovely. The difficult person. Sometimes we simply don't want to. Sometimes we think it makes us look weak if we turn the other cheek. Loving others as we love ourselves? It's definitely a working out.
Lord, you are the perfect example of love and kindness and goodness and compassion. I want to be your hands and feet in a very troubled world. As I go about life today help me see those you place in my path. Help me not to miss blessing others or miss the blessings you have set in place for me to receive. Help me to keep my chin up, to make eye contact...not to be so caught up in my own agenda that I miss it. Lord, I don't want to miss it.
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