Love Your Neighbour As Yourself

Introduction:

* Have we fulfilled the command to “Love our Neighbor as Ourselves?”  

* Some take this command passingly.

* Some sees it as an encouragement to do good works to others.

* Some think that we can claim it (by faith) through what Christ has done for us, not what we are able to do to others.

* However, it is a command (instruction) which Paul has given to believers.

* It is what sanctification demands, and it is tied to the freedom we’re able to enjoy in Christ.

* <Gal 5:13-14>: 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

* <Ro 8:32>: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free <Jn 8:32>.

Ponder through:

(1) Love our Neighbor

(2) as Ourselves

* Greatest misconception about loving our neighbor is to treat all men as our brothers.

* We only call Christians our bothers, but biblically, we’re called to love all men. 

* Though the image of the fallen men is marred and distorted, all men still retain the image of God.

* We are called to value all men’s lives and dignity.

Read <Luke 10:25-37>

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

What about loving our Neighbor

1) Recognize the main problem of the Priest and Levite – Fear? Busyness?

* Indifference – The most non-loving attribute.

* How many a times have we fallen pray to the spirit of indifference?

2) Should we proactively help every needy person on the street? No.

* Yes, when God brings someone in need to us by divine appointment.

* We are not to leave helpless people in the lurch.

3) Overcome secondary differences in doing good to men.

* <Ro 12:20-21>: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

4) Following through our good works to men.

* Stamina and determination required.

* <1 Cor 13:7>: Love always perseveres.

* Seek wisdom in helping people with very difficult, long drawn problems.

5) Love both the body and soul of men.

* As much as we help people with their physical needs, we must look for opportunity to share the gospel to them.

* Loving another person is being conscious of the final judgment awaiting any unsaved soul.

To love our neighbor as ourselves.

* Not necessarily a divine standard per se, rather it is a divine standard apply upon a human standard.

* Martin Luther: “If you want to know how you ought to love your neighbor, ask yourself how much you love yourself. If you were to get into trouble or danger, you would be glad to have the love and help of all men. You do not need any book of instructions to teach you how to love your neighbor. All you have to do is to look into your own heart, and it will tell you how you ought to love your neighbor as yourself.”

* Can be applied in two senses – the active and inactive sense.

1) Active sense – Do to others what you would have them do to you <Mt 7:12>.

2) Inactive sense – Do not do to others what you would not have want others do to you.

<Gal 5:14-15>: For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

* Beware of double standard.

* We fall in many ways but Christianity is a call for excellence. 

* Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect <Mt 5:48>.

* <Heb 4:15-16>: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Reflection:

1. What is your biggest challenge with regard to loving your neighbor as yourself?
2. Do you struggle more with the active sense (do to others…) or inactive sense (do not do unto others…) of the golden rule of loving others as ourselves? Please share.