Do You Love your Neighbor?

 

James 2: 8-13

Could we be living in a time where many people do not love their neighbors because they have no self-love?  It seems to this writer that many in our culture are not happy with how God made them so they are working to change their appearance, it began with face-lifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, and moves to the disfiguring of the body with tattoos, nose bars, and rings placed in the skin.  It is also clear that the first part of my list is acceptable to most of us, and the latter part can create somewhat of a problem, if we follow the instructions in the manufactures handbook.  James 2:8&9 states; “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”  I grew-up not understanding the theory that the more time an energy you applied to your studies, it increased the odds of success; so I was always happy when the teacher graded on a curve.  But James is very clear that God is not one who uses the curve in His grading.  So if your looking to define who is your neighbor, Jesus addressed that in Luke 10:30, when a lawyer ask the question; “And who is my neighbor?”  

Have you ever pondered how life would be if we followed the instruction in the manufactures handbook?  As we contemplate that thought, let the words of Romans 15:1&2, sink into your mind.  “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failing of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbors for his good, to build him up.”  The Bible keeps directing us to this understanding; you cannot live the Christian life in your ability, it requires each of us to let Jesus do it all for us.   And that’s where the rubber meets the road it is coming to grips with that truth.  To love the guy down the street that tells you he wants to throw stones at you for killing a snake that had crossed the road an entered into his yard, that takes Jesus doing it all for you, if not, he’s just some jerk, not a person you have an obligation to bear with his failing.  I dropped the ball on this one.

Paul the apostle tells us in verse three of Romans 15, the following; “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”  Folks, God had you in mind long before He created you, He is all knowing so He chose to be your Redeemer before creation, and He has a plan in place for you.  You are the focus of His affection, look at verse four, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scripture we might have hope.”  Jesus loves your neighbor, and if you are in Christ, He is in you, let Him do it all through you by His Holy Spirit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice