Love Your Neighbor

Love Your Neighbor

 

          In early childhood we were taught to share our toys, give the biggest piece of cake to our guest, divide the candy evenly, and to make the ugly child feel important. Loving our neighbor hasn't been all that hard, We enjoy doing these things because it makes us feel worthwhile and well-behaved. Isn't feeling good about ourselves what life is all about?

          Can we be honest with each other? I can remember a few times when I didn't want to share. Times I felt cheated and resentful because I wanted something, and someone else wanted this something too. And I would have to give it up because I was this magnanimous person; the kind who puts the other person first regardless of the sacrifice. Who are we kidding? That kind of love the world can do without.

          The complete quote is, "Love thy neighbor as thy self." The key words here are: As Thy Self." How much love do you give yourself? Can you ever put yourself first and not feel guilty? When was the last time you gave what you want more than a passing thought?

          We have been missing the meaning of the message. We have been so busy loving the other guy, we forgot we are an important part of the quote. You can't give away something you don't have. For that reason you can't love your neighbor until you have accumulated a stock pile of "Self Love."

          Why are we so uncomfortable with loving ourselves? God loves us with an unconditional love. He created us in His image. We have every right to love the person we are. In fact when we have denied our worth, our value; our unique and very special and individual place in God's plans, we dishonor our Creator.

          We should love ourselves. First. Completely. In total knowledge that once we know Love, we cannot ever be unloved or unloving. Why is this? Jesus was speaking of the pure spiritual, uplifting kind of loving thought. The loving thought that was responsible for all the miracles He accomplished. Do you think for one minute that Jesus did not love Himself?

          Our problem is with the word Love itself. Love has never been an easy word to define. Adoration, affection, emotion, passion, devotion, sometimes come to mind.

          Responsibility, obligation, duty, and drudgery are also sometimes associated with love. What we do out of a feeling of guilt is not necessarily done lovingly. The very fact t that we consider it a duty makes it an unpleasant task, something we are probably deeply resentful over having to do, and determined not to let anyone know how much resentment we really feel. But..it is how we Really Feel, that matters!

          Jesus is love personified. He taught love. He showed us what true love is. He lived love. Most of all He shared Love. Love should never be less than pure joy.

          He loved Himself so much that He was never concerned with what others might think. Yet, is there anyone, in all this worlds’ history, who was more caring and compassionate? Is that a contradiction of terms? Not really.

          Jesus, to my way of thinking, never let anyone force Him to do anything He didn't want to do. He was every bit His own man. He was so self-assured, so self-confident, so completely secure in His own inner wisdom, He had no time to waste on whether or not anyone else agreed with His way of thinking. He was not arrogant, nor was He self-centered. He had no need to be. The love He had for Himself allowed Him to see all men with the same pure love.

          The time Jesus spent alone in the mountains was not used to practice the speeches He would make once he returned. Nor did he need the time to reestablish His relationship with the Father: that was a constant. He went within and found the perfect man that God had created: the Christ. He put His own thoughts in order. He reaffirmed His self-government; so that when He did return He knew that; He and He alone was responsible for His life. And He went about doing good.

          He knew that no one has the power to make another happy or miserable, unless we give them that privilege. Therefore, when the Pharisees spoke evil of Him, He didn't call His disciples together for a conference on, "What should we say?" or "How should we handle this situation?" He felt no need to be popular, He said what needed to be said and did what needed to be done. When the rich young man left without heeding the advice Jesus offered him, did Jesus get mad? Did He run to His disciples and complain of the ungrateful public he was serving? Or rush after the man and try to convince him of the wisdom that he was ignoring? No! Jesus did not take it as a personal insult. He knew someday, when the man was ready, the truth would be revealed. Until then, He looked after him with love and understanding. Love so unselfish it does not require obedience but loves unconditionally.

          The Bible tells us we should remove the mote from our eyes so we can see clearly to assist our brother to clear his eyes. Another great man said, "Be true to yourself and you can't be false to any other man."

          Jesus told His disciple that he shouldn't worry about what the other fellow does, just be sure you follow the instructions you are given. The responsibility for all others belongs to God. Which simply means; we need to put our own affairs in order and allow everyone else the freedom to do the same in their own good time.

          The very next time we feel the urge to give family, friend, or neighbor a piece of our mind, for their own good, about some behavior that we feel is unacceptable, maybe it would be a good idea to stop...ask yourself.."Why does this bother me?" If we can be honest with ourselves; we will realize we see in others only what we refuse to see in ourselves. With the pollution of larceny in our own heart every man we meet becomes a potential thief. This is the meaning of Judge Not. Another way to put it is,’ things become to you that which you see them as being’, or ‘you see things not as they are but as you are’, Does the meaning become clear? There is only one person on the face of the earth that we need to think about changing. Ourselves!

          When we become acquainted with the fact that the problem is in our mind and that is the only place it can ever be solved, we will have started to understand the message Jesus taught. Jesus wants us to experience firsthand the extreme joy that is yours when you "Have the mind that is in Christ."

          Within we will find "the kingdom of heaven" and the "peace that passes all understanding." Deep within your own mind, when you learn to trust your thought, will be the answer to all of your questions. You will not be distressed with the actions of others. Not that you will be unconcerned about them, you will have learned that a more reliable intelligence is in control.

          You will be able to hate the sin, while you love the sinner. More important, you will see that the sin originated in your mind, where it was then projected to another. When your mind is occupied with instructions for having the mind that was in Christ Jesus there is no time to be critical of others. The mind inflated and soaring with pure spiritual love has to expand to include all mankind. Love is reflected in love. Then you will truly love your neighbor as yourself.

 

          1,320 words                        Loretta Ellen Edwards