- Love Thy Neighbor

Background Scripture: Leviticus 19
Lesson Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-5, 9-18

Introduction

People appreciate relationships that are pleasant and congenial. This lesson is about love, which is the very foundational aspect of meaningful human associations. When the love of God is in our hearts our interaction with our fellowman becomes an extension of that love. The way a Christian deals with others is an indication of his standing with God.

“If a man say, I love God, and hate [disdains] his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20).

Key Verse

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:31).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The law gives us the unequivocal standard of God’s holiness and His will for mankind. It teaches proper behavior patterns, respect for others, and godly fear. It is a recipe for happiness. If one could keep the law perfectly, he would have the contented fulfillment of a life well lived, but the law can never instill love within the heart. However, when the love and grace of the gospel are the Christian’s possession, keeping the moral law compliments his work. The law is comprehended in one simple statement: “Love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). The law as given in our lesson text is closer to the gospel than we may think.

Our welfare is close to God’s heart, and His intent is that we would glorify Him through our relationships with others. If God is not at the center of our worship, we will have difficulty interacting with others. It is of no legitimate use to worship something other than God, and for this reason idolatry is strictly forbidden. Self-worship always hinders us in relating to people.

Some key points of the law included in the lesson text are unselfishness, thoughtfulness for another’s feelings, impartial regard and respect for all people, nonresistance, honesty, simplicity, and dedication to God.

Jesus tied love and the law together when He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 37-40). Though the law commands us to love both God and our fellowmen, it is powerless to generate love. God alone is the Fountainhead of love.

Practical Truths for Today

God loves relationships and it is first apparent in how He loves His Son and in turn loves us. As we are made in the image of God, we also are not meant to live solely to ourselves and operate in a strictly personal sphere of activity. We were created to love God and be in communion with Him.

What love is and how to express it may at times seem unclear because Satan has corrupted the minds of people regarding the real essence of love. The joyful message of true love is freedom and liberty from the bondage of selfishness—to be set free from the idolatry of self-worship. Selfishness is expressed in “be nice to me, make me feel good, show me favor, care for me, have things go my way, and I may respond in a positive way.” We must accept that love and selfishness are opposites to be able to know what loving each other really means.

True love is epitomized in the way God reached down to the lost family of man. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). While we had our backs turned toward Him and were not returning favor to Him, He went on loving and caring for us. With even a casual observation of 1 Corinthians 13, we see the eternal quality, beauty, and unselfish aspects of love.

Self-love is a misnomer in the sense that we seek the highest good of the one we love. If we truly loved ourselves, we would unconditionally surrender at the cross, commit everything to God, and love Him with all our heart, for it is absolutely the best and kindest thing we can do for ourselves.

Within the human heart is a built-in “love receptor” yearning to be filled. Children at an early age crave consideration from their parents, and parents who respond in a loving way give them a sense of well-being and security. The world desperately needs God’s love for it is the answer to people’s hurting hearts, failed trusts, broken dreams, damaged emotions, and all the other ill effects of sin. Love is the constant and continuing need of humanity; there is nothing quite as valuable to us in our depraved condition. The success and spiritual health of a Christian depends on love.

God is looking to His people to share His love among themselves and with humanity at large. He created man to love Him in the first place and then to point others to the Source of love through kindness, care, and concern. Love is not always giving what the recipient wants, but it is considering and responding to their real need. This often requires sacrifice on the part of the giver.

It was at Calvary that Jesus manifested God’s love to the world, and it is there where self is slain. To receive divine mercy and pardon instead of justice makes the love of God personal and precious to us. It inspires our love for God and, on this basis, we are prepared to love our neighbor. Having first received the love of God, we are able to give it to others. Love is a relationship expression not to be stored or saved, but to be given away.

Love is often thought of as an emotion; an affectionate feeling toward people, wishing them good. When these feelings of endearment are not as strong as we would like, we need to remember that if we wait on our feelings to do what is right, we will fail. Jesus did not find it easy to go to Calvary, yet He chose to give His life because of love, and we too will need to deny our flesh to love.

The culture of North America is geared to self-gratification. In this setting it is easy to place undue importance on temporal things such as financial success, possessions, recreation, and social activities. In our busyness we can easily miss opportunities to show God’s love to others. To seek the welfare of others may require us to leave our familiar routine. The visit, call, or simple act of kindness shown to someone in need at the crucial time comes from those who are thinking of others. Too often opportunities to love are missed, not because of malicious intent, but because we are preoccupied with living our own life and distracted by things of less importance. Inside the brotherhood, our concern for each other’s spiritual welfare needs to be strengthened. We can help bear someone’s burden by taking their weakness or struggle and making it our own burden for prayer and concern.

How wonderful it is to experience the love and care of others when I am the one in need!

Illustration

Jesus illustrated love to a neighbor in the story of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan had every reason to overlook the stranded traveler; he and his people had been ostracized and ridiculed, but he chose to love.

The doctrine of nonresistance is a major doctrine of the New Testament and is lived in practical everyday life as we love and forgive others. We can know about love, and speak about it, but its true essence is in the deed. Nonresistance and practicing the Golden Rule are charity in action, breathing meaning into the word love. Though the inclination to retaliate is in our flesh, to return good for evil is a good way to love our neighbor. We must deny the temptation to gossip, slander, or criticize others. God’s children are to be ambassadors of peace.

The first and greatest command is fulfilled and lived out in the second. “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12).

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.1

Questions

1. In what ways do we see the fulfillment of Jesus’ words, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”? (Matt. 24:12).
2. Is it proper to look for a reward for loving service to our fellowman?
3. Does one ever have to be taught how to love, or is it God-given intuition?
4. Is there a conflict between love and duty?
5. 1 St. Francis of Assisi
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).