Won't You be my Neighbor

Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Farmers Mural in Wilmington, OH

I didn't grow up in a neighborhood, but I knew my neighbors. We lived in the country on five acres where I could roam the woods, fish in the pond, and read on the front porch. More than a few times I remember my dad welding machinery for the local farmers who lived nearby. A couple of times I helped bale hay. I learned about sheep and goats from the farm on the hill. When we weren't working on something, all the kids got together and played softball, tag, and hide and seek. We were neighbors who watched out for each other, visited, and cared. We loved the folks around us.

Jesus knew about neighbors. He loved the people who surrounded him. When asked which commands to follow, he was clear in his answer. Love God, love people. This is not just an Old Testament law, but also words spoken by the prophets, reiterated in the New Testament. Love God with all I have and have compassion for the people around me. Not just neighbors who live next door, but people who weave in and out of my life. It's not easy sometimes, as I'm sure it's not easy to love me at times. Never-the-less, I continue to obey Jesus. Praise God for his love and for his commands.

Love God & People

Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

On occasion, I enjoy a cup of steeped black tea. The preparation of the Earl Gray or English Breakfast drink is as enjoyable as sipping the warm liquid. I fill the kettle with water and turn the heat up to almost boil. Then I dip tea leaves into the sieve in the top of my ceramic tea pot, pour the hot water over, and allow the tea to flavor the water. Without the little screen or sieve the leaves and stems would fall in the cup. Yuck.

What does a cup of tea have to do to with loving God and loving people? It’s all about the filter. When one of the “important” Pharisees in the community asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… And…Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our minister (thanks Kenny) pointed out in his sermon last week that as a disciple of Christ I need to apply this command as a filter for everything I do. Yes— everything. Before I speak, act, pray, worship, work, prepare for my day, help my neighbor, go to the grocery store, talk to my spouse, I need to run my thoughts and actions through the sieve of love. Every commandment and law hangs on this— loving God and loving people. And what a joy to know that God loves me back!

To read more about love, go to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.