Loving others is what we are called to do, yet hesitant to obey. Not only did Jesus command us to love one another, but He included a unique qualifier that makes our task require more dedication.
After the scribe questioned Jesus about the most critical command, Jesus responded with two. These two may seem isolated, but they are intrinsically linked. Love God with all you have, and love others with all you want.
The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
Mark 12:31
If the commandment were to love your neighbor, that could be left open to interpretation. Instead, the commandment expects us to love others as we love ourselves. If there’s anything I love in this life, it’s me. You probably could say the same thing. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t hard on yourself. I’m sure you see frailties and faults. But one thing I know about everyone is that we want our lives to be more conducive to our happiness.
If I consider how I would want a neighbor to love me, it’s not difficult to imagine. I want them to wake up in the morning with me on their mind. They would decline things for themselves so they could offer them to me. They would consider my well-being and do whatever is necessary to help me achieve it. Even if you reflect on the thorough way that we are to love God, the same concept could be applied here. I want someone to care about my heart (direction and affections), soul (spiritual condition), mind (outlook and mental health), and strength (ability to survive and thrive in this life).
I know exactly how I want others to love me. Am I willing to exhibit the type of love that I want to experience? That command takes care of hundreds of others. For if I love my neighbor, I would never attempt to murder, steal, or lie. I wouldn’t covet what belongs to them and attempt to commit adultery or fraud. Loving my neighbor the way I want to be loved ensures that I won’t make a decision that devastates them.
Who is a neighbor around you who needs love? Do what you can today to show radical commitment to loving someone else the way you crave to be loved. It will help you get your mind off yourself and help create more contentment than you ever thought possible.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
