Published: 31/05/2020
The Ultimate Standard: Loving Our Neighbours
The measure of our reverence, devotion, and faith in God is our love for neighbours. On Judgment Day, we will be assessed by this standard alone.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (Matthew 25:35, NIV)
Please read complete biblical verse at (Matthew 25:31-46, NIV)
Self-Love: A Prerequisite for Loving Others
Since God's standard for Judgment Day is 'love for neighbours', this raises the question: Do we love ourselves? If we can't love ourselves, then how can we love our neighbours? Loving ourselves doesn't include loving our mortal body. For those who love their mortal body become selfish, arrogant, envious, hypocritical, and greedy – filling themselves with worldly desires and ultimately leading their souls to destruction. Thus, they fail to love their neighbours and consider them competitors instead. Rather than loving them, they strive to defeat them.
Understanding Self-Love:
Self-Love Means Loving Our Soul, which involves protecting our soul from evil. When we love our soul, we try to safeguard it from every evil and safeguard it against evil tendencies towards our neighbours – such as envy, arrogance, pride, hypocrisy, pretence, and so on. This substantiates our love for God. Thus, our prayer to God to protect us from hatred towards our neighbours is heard.
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:12-13, NIV)
Self-Love: The Foundation of Loving Others
In this way, by loving our own soul, we will begin to love our neighbour’s soul and safeguard ourselves from committing evil against them. Thus, we will be able to demonstrate our love for neighbours to God. This will help us fulfil Jesus' twin commandments in our life, as recorded in scripture:
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:39, NIV)
Thus, we will be able to demonstrate, to God, our reverence, devotion, and faith in Him, as recorded in scripture:
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. (Proverbs 16:6, NIV)
To be Continued…..
==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'Loving Self-Soul Demonstrates Love for Neighbours’ that transforms our faith journey.
Amen!
Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.
Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!
India! Peace be upon you!!
Peace to the whole world!!