Who is Your Neighbor?

This is the first and greatest commandment, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. That seems pretty self explanatory, doesn't it? Even if it is extremely difficult, we do seem to understand what is being asked of us. And the second commandment is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. Why is this one so much more difficult to "get"? Who is our neighbor anyway and how are we supposed to love them?

Well, we are supposed to love them as we love ourselves! How much do we love ourselves? We love ourselves more than almost anything, especially if we are still living in our natural, selfish state. If we are walking a walk of faith in Jesus Christ, we might be a little less selfish, but this is a lifelong struggle for most of us. We want what we want when we want it! We want to be liked/loved, served, made to feel special, showered with gifts, needed, cherished, respected, admired, taken care of, deferred to, thought well of, and we take extra care everyday to be sure that we have that place in people's lives, the lives of our families and friends. This goes back to the post a few days ago when we ask ourselves, "What is my motivation for the things I do?" But if we want to be treated this way, (and I think most of us do!), now we are being asked to treat our neighbors the same way! But who is our Neighbor?

Our Neighbor is anyone we come into contact with. This could mean our actual neighbors, the people who live next door to us or across the street, or it could mean the person who delivers our mail, or bags our groceries. It could be the people who work at the dry cleaners or the store we frequent most often. It could also be the person standing on the street corner asking for help... It isn't just the people we love and those who love us! It isn't just our friends and families! I would venture to say that we all need major, serious work in this area. I know I do.

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another." Galations 5:13-15

"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1 John 3:17 (NIV)

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 (NASB)

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." 1 John 3:14 (NIV)

"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:3 (ESV)

"By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world." 1 John 4:17 (NASB)

"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

Go out and show your love today! Do something kind and loving for your neighbor today and then do it tomorrow and the next day... I hear if you do something for 15 days, it becomes a habit! Let's get into the habit of love.

Dear Lord, Make me to see my neighbor's need and to actually do something to help. Let all of my good intentions become reality today so that You may be glorified in my life. Teach me to love my neighbor as myself.