John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus responded that it is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and that the second greatest is to Love your Neighbor as Yourself."
He said that all of the other commandments hang on these two commands.
If you love your neighbor as yourself, that means you don't put yourself above anyone else. We all take care of ourselves. It is natural to eat when we are hungry. It is natural to put on a coat when we are cold. It is natural to rest when we are tired. That is the way we take care of ourselves. When our neighbor is hungry, what should we do? When our neighbor is cold, what should we do? When our neighbor is tired, what should we do?
Love is not always a word the describes emotion, it is also an action word in many cases. This is one of them.
If someone has a need, it is important to pray for them. It is even important to tell them that you are praying for them. By praying we are agreeing with God in the plan that He has to take care of their needs. The next step, however, is to try to determine what God's plan is for you in this situation and whether it involves us being the giver of that care. We pray to ask God to change our understanding and lead us to be a part of His plan. Sometimes that means that we Love our Neighbor by following God's leading to practically help.
When I was baptized, I remember that the first thing the Pastor asked me was, "Doesn't it feel wonderful to follow God's commands for our lives?" It does. When God leads you into a situation to know someone's needs, it is our time to ask God, "Are you leading me to help by giving?" I am sure that we cannot help every situation we become aware of. As Christians we must become accustomed to asking and listening for the Holy Spirit to tell us what to do and then do it. If we are following the plan of God, He will provide the necessary means to fulfill the plan. We will be blessed as we learn to fulfill God's plan for our own lives. Doesn't it always feel great to help someone? That in itself is part of the blessing. I do not subscribe to the teaching that we should give so that we will be given material things in return from God. I do believe that seeking and acting upon God's plan in our lives creates a deeper relationship with Him and that is always a blessing.
When we see our neighbor is hungry, we love them by giving them food. When we see our neighbor is cold, we love them be giving them a coat. When we see that our neighbor is tired, we love them by helping and giving them rest. When we see that our neighbor is lonely, we love them by spending time with them.
This is such a simple lesson to understand and such a difficult one to put into practice.
Do we ask the question "What if I don't have enough food to share?" If it is in His plan, He can feed the 5,000 with loaves and a few fish. (Mark 6:30-44) "What if I don't have clothes to spare?" Didn't the Israelites spend years in the desert with clothes that never wore out? (Deut 8:4) What if I am too tired to help them? We are reminded that those who wait upon the Lord, (follow His Leading) will renew their strength, will run and not grow weary, will walk and not grow faint. Psalm 40:31
Take Action when you see a need. Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
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