Biblical Answer

Understanding the Command to Love Your Neighbor

The Bible commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). However, loving our neighbor can be a challenging task, especially when we do not feel affectionate or fond of them. As C.S. Lewis noted, "Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did." This means that we should not wait until we feel a certain way before showing love to our neighbor. Instead, we should act as if we love them, and in doing so, we will discover the true meaning of loving our neighbor.

The Nature of Biblical Love

Biblical love is not about feelings or emotions, but rather about displaying a set of behaviors that demonstrate our love for others. This means that we should constantly plan and act for the welfare of our neighbor, putting their needs before our own. As Jesus taught, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12). This is not just a passive rule, but an active command to love our neighbor in a way that reflects God's love for us.

Putting Love into Action

So, how can we tell if we truly love our neighbor as Christ would have us love? We can ask ourselves if our love for self limits the expression of our love for the other person, or if our love for the other person limits our love for self. In other words, do we prioritize our own needs and desires over the needs of our neighbor, or do we put their needs before our own? This is a key question to ask ourselves as we seek to love our neighbor as ourselves. By putting love into action and prioritizing the needs of our neighbor, we can demonstrate the true meaning of loving our neighbor as ourselves.