Loving your neighbor is one of the Greatest Commandments, but honestly how often do we show this. I am talking both Christian and Non-Christian.
You may be thinking how should a Non-Christian know about this? Simple, there is still a thing called the Golden Rule, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.” and while I cannot guarantee that everyone has heard it, I will bet that most have.
Why is this important? As a Christian, I am instructed to do this by Jesus, but even if I was not, doesn’t it just make sense?
I can see the wheels turning in your head going thanks, that is just what I needed to hear, but there is one problem and that is how? First we have to understand what love is.
Webster defines love as:
- strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
- attraction based on sexual desire :affection and tenderness felt by lovers
- affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests
There are some more definitions, but they start to repeat and I am sure this just cleared up right away what love is. I know I now have a very deep understanding.
Lets take a look at what the bible says about love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
That is definitely more clear and people think that the Bible has no place in today’s world. There is more information in the Bible about love such as laying down ones life for another.
John 15:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
I urge you to just do a google search on love in the Bible.
God has told us to love one another and even has defined what love is and that is great if you are a Christian, but what about if you are not. Well Christians, then it is time to step up and show the world what love is and how to do it.
Now understand, that love does not mean that you do not tell a person when they are wrong, it does not mean giving someone everything they want, it does not mean yelling at them, it does not mean agreeing with them on everything. In today’s world, it seems like we have a very distorted few of what love is. Where does this twisted view come from? Satan. It is up to you to either believe Satan’s version of love of God’s.
I am going to tell every Christian and Non-Christian that loving another the way the Bible has instructed is not going to be easy. Frankly, it will be one of the hardest things you will have to do while you are alive. Lets face it, people can be difficult, they are complicated, and they are hard to deal with at times, but loving another can cause most if not all of the tension and other issues in the world go away.
I know I said it will be difficult, but honestly I believe it will be impossible without God’s help. You can try to do it on your own and I am sure you will have some limited success, but not as much as you could have had you gotten the Lord involved.
What will you choose to do? Will you try to change to love others? If you say yes, then understand it is an unconditional love. You are choosing to love someone regardless if they love you back. If you say no, I understand it is your choice, but I urge you to reconsider.
If you think you are alone, you are not. I have a hard time loving my neighbor as myself. Frankly, when someone does something seriously wrong my thought is not about loving the, but about their total destruction, but that is not what God wants for me or them.