5 ways to love your neighbor as yourself

"Hidey Ho, neighbor." Who doesn't remember hearing that warm welcome from neighbor Wilson from the awkward but endearing Tim Taylor of the popular 90s TV show Home Improvement? If you remember correctly (or if you need some TV training), Tim was usually out in his backyard dealing with the latest, usually comedic dilemma that befell him and his family, and Wilson the always acknowledged with that catchy greeting. As their conversation continued, Wilson quoted a little-known philosopher to help solve Tim's problem and when it was clear that Tim didn't understand, Wilson gave him the sound, sound advice that would always end up working .< /p>

Nowadays I think we would all like to have a Wilson beside us so we could go to him with our problems and, after spouting some old jargon, would remind us who we were and what advice was best for our situation. In the same way, Jesus explained the two greatest commandments to a scribe. He told the scribe that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, followed by loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31, NKJV).

What is it like to love our neighbors as ourselves? As we delve deeper into the scriptures, we will see that a neighbor is not just your friendly neighbor, but everyone around you.

"One of the teachers of the law approached and heard them arguing. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?' "The most important," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no greater commandment than these.

Jesus spoke these endearing and profound words during a conversation he had with a scribe who wanted to know the first commandment to follow. Prior to this conversation, Jesus had already been accosted by Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees determined to refute Jesus' preaching. By this point in the book of Mark, Jesus had become known throughout the city not only for claiming that he was the Son of God, but also for miraculously healing people and sharing that he would be raised from the dead. .

Spiritual leaders did not like the way Jesus did not align with their teachings and was unwilling to submit to their authority, so they tried the tactic of spouting parables or questions intended to make him doubt himself. With the question of the greatest commandment of all, this scribe had already been aware of all the interactions the leaders had had with Jesus at that time and believed that Jesus had answered their questions or parables well (Mark 12:28 ). When Jesus replied that it was to love God with all you had and to love your neighbors as you love yourself, the scribe was so pleased with the answer that he said to Jesus:

"'Well said, master," replied the man. heart, with all your understanding and with all your might, and loving your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not away from the kingdom of God. And from that time no one dared to ask him any questions." -Mark 12:32-34

This revelation would upset the Pharisees and Sadducees especially because they made a fortune from people who gave them their offerings and sacrifices. But what Jesus was sharing here is that our words and actions, whether public or private, to God and to those around us are more precious to God than what we can give as appointed offerings. If we love God with everything and share that love with those around us, that is the greatest offering God can ask for. This truth remains true today. When we place God above all else and share his love with those around us, it pleases him immensely.

It is also important to remember to love your neighbor as yourself, which means you must first see the love God has for you; that Jesus died for YOU so that you would be freed from sin and become the person God intended. Because if you don't realize all the sacrifices God has made for you, how can you love others the way He loved you?

Who qualifies as your neighbor in the p...