Love for our neighbor consists of pleasing our neighbor for his or her good. It is necessary that we throw away that which always pleases us. We must remember that it is for our neighbors good and edification – not to do harm to them.

Romans 15: 1-3

{1} We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples (attitudes) of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

{2} Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

{3} For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on me.” (See Psalm 69:9)

In Luke 10:25-37, we find the story of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer in this story wanted to know what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ response to him was pertaining to what the law required. The lawyer’s response was accurate and Jesus commended him. Jesus then exhorted him to go do it and he would live. The lawyer endeavoring to justify himself asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus then gives us the account of the Good Samaritan. At the end of this parable Jesus asked a very remarkable question.

Luke 10:36 – 37

{36} “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?”

{37} And he (the lawyer) said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

As we study this passage we find that a priest and a Levite saw the man that was in need. Neither one of them wanted to get involved. They passed by on the other side, which means they saw the gentleman who really needed help, but they chose to close up their heart (1 John 3:16-18, Philippians 2:1-2, Colossians 3:12-15).

They decided to look the other way, leaving the man in the condition he was in. For all they knew the man could have died where they saw him.

The Samaritan had a different determination; it was the spirit of compassion. Compassion will motivate you to love your neighbor not only in word, but also in deed. It didn’t matter how much it cost the Samaritan. When something or someone is the object of your love it will never matter what it cost. The only motivation of the Samaritan was the well being of his neighbor. The only motivation we should have in serving our neighbor is for his or her well being.

John 15:12 -13

{12} “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

{13} Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Jesus told us to love as He loved. There will be no conditions to that kind of love. Many times God’s people want to put strings on their love. You know the attitude of, “I’m not going to such and such because, so and so didn’t do it the way I wanted them too.” Jesus never had that attitude.

His Love for us was and is an unconditional love, and He commanded us to love the way that He loved. For you and I to walk in this level of maturity means that we are not going to have it our way all the time. We are commissioned to lay down our lives. Laying down our life not only refers to dying physically, but also in giving cheerfully of our time and effort. Perhaps there is someone in need of our friendship etc. We should be willing to give with the same attitude that we would have if we were doing it for ourselves.

The most powerful demonstration of loving your neighbor is when you love without expecting anything back from the person who is the object of your love. To love without working impolitely to your neighbor means that you have made a deliberate decision to never do anything destructive or detrimental to them. -AWM

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