As Yourself

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Galatians 5:14

 

`In the 22nd chapter of Matthew the Pharisees and lawyers are trying to trap Jesus by questioning Him about the law.  They ask Him which of the commandments is the greatest.  Jesus replies, "Love the Lord 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" (Matt.22:37-39).  Jesus explains that the entire law and the prophets are fulfilled by walking in these two commandments.  The reason for this?  Love.  If we are loving, we are fulfilling God's greatest commands for our lives, because God is love.  And ultimately, He has created us to love and to serve Him, and one another.  Life and faith can become so confusing, so for me, I have to break it down to the basics.  And Jesus is telling us that what we ought to be doing is really simple.  Love God, and love others, as ourselves.  Paul goes on to emphasize this command in his letter to the Galatians.  Paul tells them and the Holy Spirit is telling us, that the entire law is fulfilled by love; loving your neighbor, just as you love yourself.  But, what does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?  And who is your neighbor for that matter?  

    Our neighbor is anyone in need of love that God puts in our path.  This is demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Oftentimes, our culture emphasizes the exact opposite perspective of a life following Christ.  The world would tell us to take care of ourselves, first and foremost, and our own interests.  Perhaps then, society teaches us to look after family next.  But, what about our enemy?  What about people that don't like us, or are against us?  This is the radical love that we are to demonstrate in loving our neighbors.  The criteria for being a neighbor isn't what we want it to be, or who our culture tells us it is, our neighbor is the person that needs our love and service, who God, in His sovereignty, has placed in our walk.  What makes loving your neighbor so interesting is the "how" part of loving them.  Jesus doesn't tell us to simply just love our neighbors, then perhaps, the way we love them is left up to us to draw our own conclusion.  But rather, we are to love our neighbor, "as ourselves".  How do we love ourselves?  Our natural tendency is to take care of our own interests in the best regard, and sort of have the leftovers for others.  We are born with a selfish ambition to serve ourselves for ourselves, and not so much our neighbors.  Jesus is telling us, and Paul is emphasizing, that we are to take that "me first" love, and put it to work for others.  Loving people in this radical kind of way, lends an opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.  Not only is this our calling, but it most literally one of the greatest two things Jesus says should be present in the forefront of our walk.  

    Today make an extra effort to heed this calling to love your neighbor.  And not just the person next door, but those who the Lord has put in your path to love and serve.  Proverbs 3:27 tells us, "Do not withhold good from to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do so".  Understand that God will put people in your path today that you have the power to serve, love, and do some good for.  Pray that the Lord will gives you eyes to see, ears to hear, and hands that work to love and serve your neighbor today.  Love you all!  Praying for you and yours!  Have a blessed day, it's your choice!