Yesterday I shared an excerpt from Jerry Bridges' book, "The Gospel for Real Life," on what it means to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. After that section, Bridges looks at Matthew 22:39. In this verse, it's after Jesus has responded to the question "What is the most important commandment?" Here, Jesus tells the questioning lawyer the second most important command - "Love your neighbour as yourself." But what does it mean to love your neighbour as yourself? Bridges includes this helpful, convicting list.
- You cherish for your neighbours the very same love that you bear toward yourself.
- In your dealings with them you never show selfishness, irritability, peevishness, or indifference.
- You take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honor, and well-being.
- You never regard them with a feeling of prideful superiority, nor do you ever talk about their failings.
- You never resent any wrongs they do to you, but instead are always reading to forgive.
- You always treat them as you would have them treat you.
- To paraphrase 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, you are always patient and kind, never envious or boastful, never proud or rude, never self-seeking. You are not easily angered and you keep no record, even in your mind, of wrongs done to you.