Jesus association of loving our neighbor as ourselves in reference to the Good Samaritan is obviously a very good example. Rom 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” So basically to love your neighbor means you treat them the way you want to be treated. You wouldn’t want someone to commit adultery with your wife or husband. You wouldn’t want to be murdered or have your stuff stolen. Would you want your neighbor always wanting (coveting) your stuff; no. So it means to act righteously toward your neighbor. Love is gentle, kind, longsuffering ect. But love is not blind to the wickedness that is in mankind. When Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery, He first dealt with the hypocrisy of those wanting to kill her by pointing out that they have sin. The reason He did not condemn her was because He came this time to save us from sin, the next coming is for wrath, judgment and justice. Then He dealt with her sin by telling her to go and sin no more. Mankind’s sinful rebellion is the issue, at His coming then and His coming in the future.
If my enemies curse me, I bless. If they force me to go one mile, I go two. If they ask for my coat, I give them my shirt too. If they kill me, I say, “Father forgive them.” This is loving your neighbor.
In my life the personal testimonies, some very, very close to me, who where in depression, who harmed themselves or tried to kill themselves was out of self love. They were unhappy the way life was treating them. They didn’t like there life, job, looks, lack of money, the way people treated them, lack of possessions ect. Life was just not fair to them. This is the height of self love. This is the nature that the Father executed on the cross in Christ, the old man, the flesh, the carnal nature. These are all feelings and thoughts that are opposed to the nature of God. As if we deserve anything more than wrath. We do not deserve mercy, kindness, forgiveness, food, clothing, shelter, possessions, approval or affirmation. Mankind by nature is an enemy of God that deserves nothing but a righteous wrath and judgment. Suicide says, “I am not getting what I deserve, therefore, I am leaving this place. When Jesus said we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross, it is a call to a continual execution of the flesh, the old man, the carnal nature. In this is freedom and liberty, for it is the above mentioned self love that enslaves us. There is not room in Christ for a love of self that elevates us in our own mind. Women are told not to adorn themselves with costly apparel and jewelry but with a meek and quiet spirit for this is how the godly women of old adorned themselves, like Sarah, who even called Abraham lord. Men shouldn’t be concerned about looking handsome and attracting the attention of women but they should treat women with respect and love their wives as themselves. Provide for them, take care of them. We should not think highly of ourselves but soberly, knowing if there is anything good in us who love the Lord it is because it is Him accomplishing it by His Spirit, so ALL praise goes to Him and none to us. Jesus said after we have done everything we are commanded to do we are to say, “I am an unprofitable servant, I have only done what was required of me”. No room for self exaltation.
By His execution and resurrection, He has delivered me from the wicked, rebellious, fornicating, neighbor hating, thieving, self centered, demoniac that I was. All glory, honor and thanksgiving belong to the Father and the Son. For by His death and resurrection He has translated me from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God. This no longer is my world or my home. I am looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. I am just a sojourner in a foreign land. I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live, but not I, it’s Christ that lives in me and the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God.
