What Does the Bible Mean by Love Your Neighbor as Yourself?
Shared generously across the Bible are verses that motivate people to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” It’s regarded as one of the fundamental rules or commandments they should adhere to in life, an integral part of being Christians.
While the message can be easily decrypted and profoundly explained throughout the material, its application can be confusing, especially in modern times.
What Does It Mean to Love Your Neighbor?
Depending on how people view the verse, there can be many ways to show how you love your neighbor. In fact, the object of this affection, “neighbor,” can also be interchanged.
Jesus has repeatedly called people to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He has placed a significant weight on this reminder, repeating it for a long time. He has also made it a commandment, further proving its importance. But what does He truly mean?
In the book Shelters by Jesus, Loving Our Neighbors, Pastor Berry expounds on Luke 10:27 and reflects it in real life. The verse reads, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
The pastor banked on this verse and crafted a book that encourages people to devote their love not only to God but also to others. Within the book, he also detailed its significance, painting an image of what the world could be if people obeyed this rule as Jesus wanted them to.
Pastor Berry uses Luke 10:27 to emphasize the importance of helping each other and building a community that thrives on service. In fact, he spearheads an organization with this as its primary mission. Shelters By Jesus, Inc. is built around the essence of altruism, an advocacy of extending Christ’s generosity and mercy to people who need them most.
This is what the Bible means by “love your neighbor.”
How Does This Verse Apply In Real Life?
If taken literally, it’s easy to picture people loving their neighbors.
Being the crowd most likely exposed to each other daily, there’s no questioning the closeness that’ll grow between them. Hence, “loving your neighbors” can become as easy as breathing. They’ll bump into each other regularly and interact with nothing but kindness and affection.
But what happens when the object “neighbor” is extended, involving others not proximately close to one another? While the verse may use this terminology, it doesn’t always have to convey its literal meaning. Jesus could refer to everyone else in the world as “neighbor.” And the verse could mean that He’s expecting people to be kind to each other.
When this outlook is applied, the verse becomes less easy to practice.
However, the issue isn’t necessarily about defining who this “neighbor” is. Instead, it’s how people are supposed to help and love these individuals. After all, nuances become less important if the action is banked on compassion and mercy. Knowing who these are directed to becomes less significant when how they manifest in behaviors is prioritized.
Show People Small Acts of Kindness
Love doesn’t always have to be grand to be felt. This emotion becomes more meaningful with small yet consistent acts. When people show even the smallest amount of kindness to others without expecting anything in between, this is the most potent evidence of the verse.
Love doesn’t always require much. Instead, doing something small with the purest intentions is more valuable than the grandest gestures. Helping a stranger can already make their day. Lending someone a hand will already multiply for the world to benefit from.
Spend Time with Each Other
The idea of spending time with a stranger can be weird. It’s impossible to practice without feeling intimidated or shy. However, this doesn’t always have to mean spending time and actively talking. Instead, it can be shown in how people appreciate each other’s presence.
Make nobody feel isolated or judged.
By welcoming strangers with warm gazes, nobody will feel left out. It’s always the small gestures that leave the most impact. Even with no words exchanged, people can make each other feel cared for through the warmth and absence of judgment they give off. Actions speak louder than words, and spending time doesn’t always have to involve verbal exchange.
Advocate This Message
The only way to feel loved is when everyone is reminded of what to do. This starts when people personally advocate and openly support the message. They can do so by joining organizations like Shelters By Jesus, Inc. that openly provide and care for people. There’s no better way to show love to your neighbors than by helping them to the best of your ability.
Advocacy goes beyond speaking about the vulnerable. It should also include physically helping them and improving their lives. If you want to know more about the organization, read it in Pastor Berry’s books!
