Biblical Answer

Loving our neighbor as ourselves is a commandment that is rooted in the Bible. In the book of Leviticus, we read, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:18) In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus summarizes the law by saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

This commandment is not just about feeling a certain way or having a warm fuzzy feeling towards our neighbor. Rather, it is about acting in a way that demonstrates love and care for our neighbor. As C.S. Lewis says, "The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did." (C.S. Lewis) When we act as if we love our neighbor, we will find that we are behaving in ways that are consistent with love. We will be kind, generous, and compassionate towards them. We will seek to understand their needs and do what we can to meet them.

But what about when our love for our neighbor conflicts with our own interests or desires? This is where the biblical commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves comes in. It reminds us that our neighbor is made in the image of God and is therefore worthy of love and respect, regardless of whether they are elect or not. As John Piper says, "We are not to love God's elect, and them only, but to love our neighbor, irrespective of whether he is elect or not." (John Piper) This means that we must be willing to put the needs of our neighbor above our own interests, even if it is difficult or uncomfortable. By doing so, we demonstrate our love for God and our love for our neighbor.