Neighbor

Neighbor

How am I to love my neighbor?

God’s Response

Love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18

A second [command] is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39

“Which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:36-37

Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself is the second greatest commandment. Why do both the Old Testament and Jesus say to love your neighbor as yourself? Because God knows that our first instinct is to take care of ourselves. We can train ourselves to give the needs of others equal priority with our own, and this is what love is all about. If we truly love others the way God intended, we will naturally carry out all of God’s other instructions for service. Love directed inward has nowhere else to go. Love directed outward can change the world one person at a time.

God’s Challenge

It is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James 2:8