Christian Challenges

Love Thy Neighbour As Thyself

Matthew 22:39

One day a lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him which is the greatest commandment in the law?:-

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40.

When most people discuss verse 39 they concentrate on we should do for our neighbours. However, I would like to take a different approach here. I would like to look at the "love . . . as thyself," part. What does it really mean to love thyself? Does it mean we are to have self-love or self-respect?

Self-love is to love one's own person or happiness. It is really selfishness which is being inconsiderate of others. Selfishness blinds us to the needs of others causing them grief, while deceiving ourselves that we are still right with God. It is the root of covetousness and bars the way to usefulness. This can hardly be what the Scriptures are referring to.

Self-respect is to hold with some degree of reverence; to esteem as possessed of real value; to have proper regard for one's dignity, design and purpose. This will lead us to respect and preserve the living machinery that is so fearfully and wonderfully made - namely our bodies. This respect and value of ourselves is what we should have towards others.

"Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself," is the second commandment on which hang all the law and the prophets. So let us look at the commandments relating to our relationship with other people and see if we can apply them to having self-respect.

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12.

When we have self-respect we will and honour our parents who bore us and brought us up no matter what mistakes they made - nobody is perfect. As Christians we can learn from them and their mistakes and try to make a better future for all.

"Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20:13.

When we have self-respect we will not deliberately do things that could or will kill us. This includes taking care of all aspects of our health - diet, sleep, exercise, temperance, trust in God, etc. - as well as not doing unnecessary dangerous acts.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14.

When we have self-respect we will love the partner whom we married, and not even consider being with any other.

"Thou shalt not steal." Exodus 20:15.

When we have self-respect we will not steal from ourselves time, energy, and effort we need to keep ourselves healthy in body, mind and spirit.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Exodus 20:16.

When we have self-respect we will not lie to ourselves about what we do or our motives. We will be honest to ourselves and to God, seeking forgiveness and repentance where necessary.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Exodus 20:17.

When we have self-respect we will be content with what we have and can afford without being extravagant or buying unnecessary things or things just for show which could cause our neighbours to covet our things.

In closing here are some questions for us all to answer :-

- How much self-respect do we have?
- Can you truly love our neighbour if we have no self-respect?
- Do you need to respect ourselves more so that we can love our neighbour more?

May the love of Jesus Christ so fill our hearts that love spontaneously springs forth to others.

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