Loving My Neighbor As My Neighbor Loves Me

When you think about the biblical phrase of "Love Your Neighbor As You Love Yourself", what does that really mean? Being that this is a part of the Law of Moses in the ten Commandments, does this still apply to us believers under the dispensation of grace through Christ?

Well to answer that question, Jesus said "I give unto you a new commandment to Love one another." This particular subject brings to mind the parable of the "Good Samaritan". You know the story. There was a man who was on his way down a certain road and was robbed, beaten up and left dying in the street. In this parable, there were several individuals who saw the man, and could plainly see this person needed some help. However, the need of the wounded person was a inconvenience or an unconcerned issue for the previous passers by.

On this same road, a gentlemen approaches the hurt individual and sees the need for help. The passer by just happened to be of Samaritan race and heritage. This piece of information changes the circumstances of the entire scenario. Being that the victim who was in need of help was not favorable to the Samaritan people. However, the Samaritan was the only one who cared enough to willingly stop and help the man.

This brings me to my next question, what if the injured person was you?

The injured person did not refuse the help he received from the Samaritan, in fact, he was extremely blessed by the act of love, not to mention living through this ordeal. How often do we miss our blessings that God sends us because we don’t like the answer we’re receiving? There’s a scripture in the bible that talks about not responding like the dog who SNIFFED at the gift. God sends us answers all the time, but often we don’t like the package or the way in which it arrives and we sniff at it.

God has placed us in each others lives to be a blessing to one another through the expression of love. The loving of your neighbor is an extension of God’s purpose for your life being fulfilled through His plans. Unfortunately, many are not willing to yield to God or His plans, much less don’t even know God has a plan for their lives. I don’t believe it was a coincidence at all that Jesus used the phrase "people walking along the same road" in the parable of the Good Samaritan. People are in our lives for the purpose of fulfilling God’s plans through one another.

Just think about how significant we are to one another. What if Mary had said to the Angel "NO I can’t have no baby I’m about to be married. You are not about to mess up my plans dude". God would have had to find someone else to use and bring the Son of God to earth.

What I’ve discovered through this process is the concept of loving your neighbor works both ways. You must be willing to give what is necessary to supply what others need as well as, being open to receive from the individuals God has placed in your life. Loving your neighbor is about giving and receiving from one another. If we are yielded to God and God’s plans for our lives, then our needs are met and there is nothing missing, nothing broken, and nothing lacking. We are operating in the Shalom Peace of God.