It can get rather confusing (to say the least), this idea that I must love the neighbor who throws shoes or pots my way, or towards my ideals, faith in Jesus, moral convictions, biblical world view, constitutional rights amd priviledges and etc. On the contrary, a shoe or pot would be a kinder item to hurl than insult or slander. At least the bruise, bump or cut would certainly heal faster, but then there is the issue of scars, which I will choose to respond as Pooh might:
"Oh bother"
So, we must face the challenge to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Firstly, I must ask myself just exactly what love is, and in what ways and to what extent I love myself. I have physical/biological needs that must be met, such as water, food, shelter and clothing. By providing these necessities for myself, am I loving myself or responding to an innate drive to thrive? By recognizing that nature within myself, it makes perfect sense that I allow myself to respond to another living being who might struggle with provision of these indispensable demands of life. One might then conclude that I have loved my neighbor as myself.
But have I?
I can empty my piggy bank and bag up all of my material posessions, and with the twist of the wrist and pedal to the metal, head down in my car to the local shelter for a major deposit, including keys to the car, no questions asked and no tax receipt needed.
But is that love?
I would have emptied my life of wood, hay and stubble, transferring that often burdensome booty upon another (which might bring comfort for a fleeting moment).
But did I empty myself..of myself?
The scripture tells me that Jesus/Yeshua emptied Himself of EVERYTHING, literally becoming a slave, a true Servant King.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phillipians 2:3-11 ESV
Love?
Yes. This is true love. I can give my entire self away to another, but love is completed when I am willing to, and actually lay my own life down, to the point of death (the total emptying), for my neighbor. We would gladly put ourselves in harms way for our family, but would we do it for a stranger? Really?
This is love
1 JOHN 3: 14-24 (Berean Study Bible)
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
Indeed, THIS is LOVE
YHWH Elohim God,
the only TRUE God,
is
LOVE
⚓❤⚓
And now, for your viewing pleasure, a Veggie Tale moment that I viewed years ago, and never forgot.
Pots, Shoes or true Love
We all must choose
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
*Crown of thorns image compliments of: knollzw/Pixabay
