The Encourager
“"Neighborly Love" - by Jeff Curtis”
“Neighborly Love”
by Jeff Curtis
A scribe, a Pharisaic lawyer, asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment in the law of Moses (Mark 12:28). In His answer, Jesus spoke to him about love. First, He said, is to love God; and second, we are to love others (Mark 12:30-31).
We are going to focus on the second of these two, the command to love our neighbors as ourselves. In James 2:8 this is called “the royal law,” and in Romans 13:8 it is identified as the fulfillment of the law. In Galatians 5:14 Paul said, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” When Jesus told the rich young ruler to keep the commandments, He specifically mentioned the commandment “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 19:19).
The big question about this important commandment is “How do we love our neighbors as ourselves?”
- Neighborly love is a practical love. We all have experience in loving ourselves; we address our needs and make sure that we have the necessities for living a good life.
- Neighborly love is an active love. This commandment calls for an immediate response. It isn’t about how we feel toward the neighbor (because feelings can vary), but what we do for our neighbor. When we see a neighbor in need, do we help him?
Jesus illustrated this principle in Luke 10:30-37. The parable of the “Good Samaritan.” Unlike the priests and the Levite in Jesus’ story, who “passed by on the other side” when they saw someone in need, this Samaritan demonstrated active love.
At the end of the story, Jesus asked, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber’s hands?” (Luke 10:36).
The lawyer responded, “The one who showed mercy to him?” (Luke 10:37). Jesus’ final words gave a message to all of us; “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37). We are not to pass by someone who needs help. Neighborly love is extending more than sympathy.
- Neighborly love is a continual love. This is not a once-in-a-while love; it is a daily love. Each passage in the New Testament that addresses this theme features continuity. Romans 13:8-10 speaks to this.
We could say that the commandment to love others is an outstanding growth of the first and foremost commandment. If we love God with all our hearts, we will love our neighbors as ourselves. Love for our neighbors, results from our love for God.
One who is a good friend will usually have good friends, and he who is a good neighbor will usually have good neighbors. However, as Christians, we are to manifest neighborly love whether or not we have a good neighbors. This is how the love of God affects our daily living.
