Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greated 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.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-Matt 22: 34-40
Now, I'm not saying I'm some great bible scholar - but let me walk you through what God walked me through. I've heard the "Love the Lord your God... first and greatest commandment" my whole life. It's been preached - it's been taught - it's been sung about. But a lot of times we choose to ignore the second half - "Love your neighbor as yourself". What does that mean? The focus is commonly on the second half "as yourself". What would you do for yourself - then do it for someone else. But here of late, God has opened my eyes to the true meaning of the first portion: "love your neighbor". I believe that if you ever have a question of what God means, the best place to look is in the bible. So let's go to Corinthians where Paul spells out what "love" is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8
We use this when speaking of our spouses, our friends, our family. But what of those we don't like? The co-worker that is impossible to get along with. The cashier that is rude and puts canned goods on top of the tomatoes. The car that cuts you off at the intersection. Are these people not our neighbors? In our responses, are we kind? Are we patient? Are we easily-angered? Are we delighting when that other car gets stuck at a red-light, or pulled over?
God doesn't just toss this whole "love your neighbor" thing in casually either. He then says that all the laws and prophet hang on "these two things". You can't just love the Lord and call it a day. It's not an option to only love those who you like or who you think are worthy. Love your neighbor... true love. Even to those who don't deserve it.
Which 'neighbor' can you show love to today?
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