by Fran Moriarty

Created on: August 23, 2009   Last Updated: September 01, 2009

The Lord commands us to "love your neighbor as yourself." Like every statement given to us by the messiah, it so very simple. It is profound. It is what makes a Christian different. John (13:35) quotes Jesus as saying: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It is the essence of Christian belief. To be a Christian is to love your neighbor.

The statement involves three elements: love, neighbor and self. On the surface, these words seem simple and easily understood. Jesus asked his disciples to follow him. The Lord speaks in simple terms. Humans tend to add on exceptions and conditions. "Love your neighbor, except when they are different!" "Love your neighbor except during war." Christian love is unconditional.

Humans make love a complex issue. There are a multitude of kinds of love. In searching for Christ's meaning, simplicity is the guideline. Love is pure and simple. It is the feeling of wishing one well. It is a state of mind. It is not easy to follow the simple task of wishing one well. Stranger, enemy, and fool- wish them no evil.

Neighbor is not just the person that lives next door or the worker that shares a burden of labor. Neighbor is everyone from the stranger passed on the road to soul mate that shares a bed. Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan to help us define the extend of neighbor.

How can you love your neighbor until you love yourself? The world is filled with people who do not love themselves. Jesus tells us to "love your neighbor as yourself." Until you learn to love yourself, you cannot fully love your neighbor. How many times has the following thoughts lodged in your mind: "Gawd! I'm so ugly!" "Stupid me!" "I'm such a loser!" These are thoughts that can become so obsessive that it clouds the ability to love your neighbor. It breeds envy and malcontent.

In order to learn to love yourself, you must do three things. First comes acceptance. You are what you are! Such is life! Narrow eyes, body hair, big nose, small breasts- accept it. Changing what you are can create vanity and results in envious comparisons. The second step is to realize that comparison makes you either conceited or subordinate. Finally, realize that everyone is different and unique. When you practice these three actions, self love follows. With love of self flows the love of everyone around you- your neighbor!

How then does someone "love your neighbor as yourself?" You use the love within you to see that all people are special and children of God. Wish each person not only "no harm" but wish them good. God loves you. If you are truly a Christian, then "love your neighbor as yourself."

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