Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39) but we are often so busy, self absorbed, or just honestly haven’t thought about how our greatest missions field is what is already between our own two feet. At first glance, one would think that this is an easy commandment to follow. We all like to be nice to each other, friendly; it’s the culturally correct thing to do. As my grandmother would say, “We don’t want to ruffle any feathers.” But is being nice all there is to loving our neighbor? Why would Jesus make such a big point to say: first make sure you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…. and then by the way, in your free time love your neighbor, too? No, he instructs those that say that they are Christians to love God, their neighbors, and themselves!
So then that begs the question, why are there so many lonely people in the world? If Christians truly loved their neighbors, what could it look like? I’m not talking about big new initiatives or government programs (although both have a place). I’m thinking about what you and I can do to live out this commandment and make a difference with those who are around us.
The reality is that most of us are too busy to take on something new. So over the next few weeks I’m going to be breaking it down into three areas: people, passion, and purpose.
To really know and love our neighbor, I’m proposing that we take a serious look at those people we already come in contact with on a regular basis. Those people at work, on the side of the soccer field, at your monthly scrapbook nights, your physical neighbor, in your moms group, at the YMCA, at church, at your kids’ school, or wherever you bump into people on a regular basis.
Then I’ll ask you to take the next step to combine something you're passionate about with the people around you. Do you like cooking? Tonight for dinner make two meals and bring one to the stressed mom at wrestling, whom you know always brings her kids to McDonalds after practice. Or if you like to encourage people, take the time to write out a hand written card to that friend at MOPS whom you know is dealing with some marriage issues. If you like children, volunteer to take your neighbor's kids; not just when she needs you, but so that she can take a nap. At work, use your lunch break to sit and listen to the person whose son just made some pretty bad decisions in life. It won’t take long for those that look to find numerous opportunities surrounding you.
I have also found that you won’t continue to live this way for any amount of time without a purpose. That purpose can vary for different people. For some people they help others because they have lived through a horrible experience and they want to help others going through the same thing. For most of us, we may just have to start with being obedient to what Jesus has asked us to do and that is to love our neighbor. Regardless of… if we want to… have the time to… know how to… we are still asked to.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on more details. But at any point, if you have something that you would like to share, an experience where you were on the giving or receiving end of living out this instruction, please do so. It would be so encouraging to see how people are living out this commandment and hopefully what you share will give someone else an idea of something they can do for others.
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