Is "Love Thy Neighbor" Even Possible?

tonnerkiller

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

Thank you for this thread. I think it shows very well the two extremes "cheap grace" on the one side and "justification by works" on the other side.
There is nothing wrong with the commandment. But we try to water it down so we can handle it. I think everybody is doing this every now and then, not only those who wrote according posts here.
It's what people tend to do: Try to get along with the commandment.
The other thing people do is legalism: They find a rule, any rule, and want it obeyed no matter what. If you cannot follow it, you are out. This works best when there is no chance to see whether those people themselves follow these rules ;)
I don't intend to offend anyone, actually I think we all do this as well, every now and then.

Now what to do? I think it was Paul who described the law as a schoolmaster. We are to comprehend, like in school, how things are.
And it appears to me that you have comprehended the gravity of sin. You can give everything you have, you can try again and again, you will never fully get to the point where your deeds justify you. If you take the short road for cheap grace and say it is all not so bad, you miss that. If you insist that there must be a way to fulfill everything and justify yourself without the help of God, you miss that.

Sin is grave, really grave! And it causes real pain, real suffering. We NEED a way out.

The way out is Christ. But not in a way that everything will be easy now. Not in a way that you are now fulfilling the commandments like housework chores.
It is still good to follow the commandments, because as much as you do, pain will decrease, suffering will decrease. But you don't need to do it for justification. You ARE justified. You are a child of God, a brother of Christ. You don't need to prove anything to them, they are family! All pressure gone.

And maybe, after a while, you will find, that you get stronger. Not like being perfect for self-justification at one point: We are still all lacking, we still have only one way: Christ. But in a way that it gets easier to help more people, not out of a feeling of duty, not as a chore, but out of an inner motivation caused by God's love towards you.

So relax. Not because the problem wasn't so bad, but because YOU are not the one responsible for solving the problem. You can help though, as long as you want and as far as you can. But the responsibility lies somewhere else and the guy in charge does indeed have superpowers ;)

God bless
 
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spiritman

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

It is possible, otherwise we would not be given this commandment. All of God's commandments are possible to the one who believes. Would a good and loving father give a commandment to his child knowing he could not do it?

It's not an issue of I can't but rather one of I don't want to.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
 
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JackRT

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

I have only ever met one person who seemed to love everyone as himself. For about five years he was my department head when I was still teaching high school. An absolutely remarkable man. He could walk into a classroom as a complete stranger and the kids responded to him instantly. It seems that at some level they instinctively knew that he loved them. In Christianity we sometimes call such people saints. In India they are known as bodhisattvas. I knew him as a friend. He was a Hindu.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Seek out those who are honest anywhere , truly living by God's Word/ the Life that is in Jesus,
or else it is not likely (unless God does it somehow),
to find such persons .....
the accomplishment (of finding such persons) rests with trusting in God, not in ourselves, not in man, not even in seeking,
except as God says plainly: seek and keep seeking, and you will find.

His Word is TRUTH, even today when few try.
 
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Kutte

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Dear Hidden In Him, your wrote:
"Let me explain. I am called as a teacher of God. I have a nice little house, not ostentatious but not at all run down, nice neighborhood, etc. I live a far better standard of living than say many of the Christian refugees are living in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries are living right now.

Do I feel guilty about this? No. Why? Because the best help I can be to the body of Christ is to have a quiet, peaceful home to stay in so I can read, study, hear the Voice of God, write, and do the work He has called me to do."


I am hopeful not to sound offensive when I say: "Are you not a bit self-centered?" There are some international charitable organizations dedicated to helping suffering Syrian refugees as well as those living in areas of civil wars in Middle Eastern countries. Besides listening to the voice of God you may want to consider helping our distant neighbors over there with some financial contributions or by emptying your closets of clothes you no longer wear.
If we would truly walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and love are neighbors as we love ourselves, There would be peace in the world. It's one of Jesus Christ's ultimate recipes.
God bless
 
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enigmadi

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?
 
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enigmadi

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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"So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?"


We don't , and we don't have to.

YHWH said it. Jesus lived it. Jesus shows us how to live.

Most all the world rejects Jesus. Even if and when we feel as if
we would
willingly die for other men if only they might be saved,
since
they reject the death and resurrection of JESUS,
there is nothing anyone can do that was not already done once for all.

We are lights in the world of darkness (great darkness),
and some might be
saved from sin and judgment thru our prayers and the testimony of JESUS and the BLOOD of THE LAMB - as YHWH Says.
 
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dqhall

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Benjamin Franklin stated that a house with two chimneys uses more wood than a house with one chimney. It is common sense that maintaining a house full of empty rooms is not as economical as owning a smaller home. The taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance and repairs, plus purchase price are usually higher for a larger home in the same general area. Having a house full of empty bedrooms is not efficient.

People who have plenty of food and become obese may not worry about the cost of pastries. They find food is cheap. Heart attacks can put an end to such foolishness. Obesity is linked to coronary heart disease.

I would not want to be robbed. I do not rob. This makes sense to me. To the thief, it is beyond comprehension.

If I learned God blesses those who help others, then I may want to help others again.
 
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enigmadi

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My understanding of this commandment is not one of "equality" but doing what I can for those in need (WHATEVER that need is). I believe what God wants us to give as Jesus gave for us...unconditionally and without expectation of getting something in return. This can be difficult for us when we don't "like" someone. This does not mean, however, that we become doormats for those trying to take advantage.
 
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HereIStand

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Writer Phillip Cary, commenting on Augustine's interpretation of love thy neighbor, notes that the command begins with a right understanding of love thy self. We love ourselves by loving God (which we should pray for as a gift) not by desiring things for ourselves. We should love our neighbor by wanting him to share the same love for God that we have.
 
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Theo Book

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

"Equality among Man" has nothing to do with "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The issue is easily resolved when you relieve a neighbor of an issue that cannot be easily resolved by that neighbor.

I had a neighbor upon a time, who was very self-reliant, and who had no patience for any one who needed. It mattered not what it was that was needed. The fact of being needy seemed to cause anger in that neighbor, to the point he had no patience for any other person.

i saw a need in him that I could fill, when he asked me if I knew a good electrician who could wire his shop for him.

I responded in the affirmative, and when he told me how much he was going to pay, I told him I would not only wire his shop for free, I would teach him how so he could do the same if any neighbor expressed a similar need.

I wired his shop, taught him how to do the same, and continued to "be a neighbor" to him.

Later, another neighbor's wife fell down her back steps, which, upon examining them, I discovered they were old and rickety. But that neighbor had no funds with which to replace those steps.

I got my first neighbor interested by asking him if he would use his pick-up truck to deliver some steps for me. He went with me to purchase a fine set of aluminum steps, attached to small landing, portable, and capable of being fastened to a building as a permanent fixture.

He had no idea about the other neighbor's need. He took me to the store where I planned to purchase the steps, and when he saw what I was considering, he asked about why I was buying steps when I had a good set already. I explained to him, how the neighbor's wife had fallen down the steps from her back door, and broke her leg. i then told him what I was planning.

He backed off, and I thought for a moment he was about to quit and go home, but instead he asked how much the steps cost. I told him. He said to me, "I know I agreed to take these steps somewhere for you, but I changed my mind. New deal. You have to let me pay at least half the cost, or you can find another way to transport them.

"Bingo!"

Later, when we were installing those steps onto the neighbors back door, he and his wife drove in from the hospital, and asked what we thought we were doing. I said, "What does it look like to you?" He said "I can't afford to pay for those steps."

I said, "They're paid for." Now let us get them installed so you can get inside and rest."

We installed the steps and moved on.

When I moved to another town some months later, my new friend, who had helped pay for those steps, and install them, came across the road, and said to me, as he reached for my hand, "You know, Brother, You taught me all I know about how to be a neighbor."

What I taught him was how to "Love thy neighbor."

When I left, I left with him, some tools with which he could become the best neighbor to the rest of his neighbors. He was crying when I left him standing their, looking as happy as I had ever seen him.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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This does not mean, however, that we become doormats for those trying to take advantage.
Perhaps reading Foxes Book of Martrs (free online I think, several places) would help ?
True Faith Examples, true torture, true executions, and worse.
 
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JackRT

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"Equality among Man" has nothing to do with "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The issue is easily resolved when you relieve a neighbor of an issue that cannot be easily resolved by that neighbor.

I had a neighbor upon a time, who was very self-reliant, and who had no patience for any one who needed. It mattered not what it was that was needed. The fact of being needy seemed to cause anger in that neighbor, to the point he had no patience for any other person.

i saw a need in him that I could fill, when he asked me if I knew a good electrician who could wire his shop for him.

I responded in the affirmative, and when he told me how much he was going to pay, I told him I would not only wire his shop for free, I would teach him how so he could do the same if any neighbor expressed a similar need.

I wired his shop, taught him how to do the same, and continued to "be a neighbor" to him.

Later, another neighbor's wife fell down her back steps, which, upon examining them, I discovered they were old and rickety. But that neighbor had no funds with which to replace those steps.

I got my first neighbor interested by asking him if he would use his pick-up truck to deliver some steps for me. He went with me to purchase a fine set of aluminum steps, attached to small landing, portable, and capable of being fastened to a building as a permanent fixture.

He had no idea about the other neighbor's need. He took me to the store where I planned to purchase the steps, and when he saw what I was considering, he asked about why I was buying steps when I had a good set already. I explained to him, how the neighbor's wife had fallen down the steps from her back door, and broke her leg. i then told him what I was planning.

He backed off, and I thought for a moment he was about to quit and go home, but instead he asked how much the steps cost. I told him. He said to me, "I know I agreed to take these steps somewhere for you, but I changed my mind. New deal. You have to let me pay at least half the cost, or you can find another way to transport them.

"Bingo!"

Later, when we were installing those steps onto the neighbors back door, he and his wife drove in from the hospital, and asked what we thought we were doing. I said, "What does it look like to you?" He said "I can't afford to pay for those steps."

I said, "They're paid for." Now let us get them installed so you can get inside and rest."

We installed the steps and moved on.

When I moved to another town some months later, my new friend, who had helped pay for those steps, and install them, came across the road, and said to me, as he reached for my hand, "You know, Brother, You taught me all I know about how to be a neighbor."

What I taught him was how to "Love thy neighbor."

When I left, I left with him, some tools with which he could become the best neighbor to the rest of his neighbors. He was crying when I left him standing their, looking as happy as I had ever seen him.

That was a real "warm fuzzy". Thank you!
 
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sixpointer

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?
 
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AspieforGod

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

Justify the commandment? Who are we to justify what God asks of us for our best interests.
Firstly, you admit to having more than you need congratulations that's always necessary before taking action.
Secondly, the act of loving your neighbour as yourself is only possible through God we can't do it on our own will power. As John says if you have food share it, if you have a spare jacket give it away. Small acts build up to big acts but best not to count them up and think well of ourselves for doing this don't let the right hand know what the left is doing type thing.

I think it would be best for you to take your honesty and humility to God and ask Him to help you see that by helping others you are helping yourself and by just helping yourself you hurt everyone God included.

We aren't called to live a common life God calls us to live an upright and holy life.
 
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PanDeVida

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I'm still baffled about this one Commandment asking that we love our neighbor as our self, which is something we absolutely cannot do. We will always fall short of this instruction.

I have money in my bank account that I don't actually need, that could do a lot for others. I have clothes hanging in my closet that I'm not currently wearing that could go to others. I have spare rooms in my house that nobody sleeps in, that I could give to a homeless person. I've thrown food away that could have fed others.

I love myself very much. I take good care of myself. I am simply not willing to do as much for others as I am for myself. And as much as nobody likes to say it, I think the way I live my life is fairly common.

So how do we then justify this Commandment that seeks to create equality among Man?

Kimchi, Listen to yourself: I'm... I... I... I... I... I'm... I... I... I've... I love myself very much... I... I... I... I... I... LOL

Kimchi, you may have the world to offer, but never did we hear you say:
I Pray for my neighbor! Surely you can pray for your Neighbor!

Kimchi, Love your neighbor by saying a little prayer to start, and then you will come to believe that you can indeed love your neighbor, AS YOURSELF. AMEN



 
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Hidden In Him

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I am hopeful not to sound offensive when I say: "Are you not a bit self-centered?" There are some international charitable organizations dedicated to helping suffering Syrian refugees as well as those living in areas of civil wars in Middle Eastern countries. Besides listening to the voice of God you may want to consider helping our distant neighbors over there with some financial contributions or by emptying your closets of clothes you no longer wear.
If we would truly walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and love are neighbors as we love ourselves, There would be peace in the world. It's one of Jesus Christ's ultimate recipes.
God bless.

Words well received. Although it would be tougher now than in the past. My closet is junk, and actually I almost never buy clothes, nor have I much for decades. Just enough to get by. That, and income dropped to "Hold on for dear life and Trust GOD" level about 5-6 months ago, so I'm mostly just treading water financially. But your post is a good one, and maybe a lesson to be learned even in my situation as well. We always think we don't have enough when actually we have more than enough to help others with if we'll only open our big fat ears.

Mild chastisement received, and much appreciated.
Thank you, brother. I'm gonna ask in prayer tonight/tomorrow (gotta remember) if there isn't more indeed that I could be doing for my brothers and sisters in Christ, here, there and everywhere.
:oldthumbsup:
 
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OnTheMarch

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Perhaps asking yourself whether you can fulfill Christ's commandment entirely is not the right approach. Perhaps you should ask yourself how you can take one small step in the right direction today, then pray for the courage and fortitude to do so. If you repeat that process for the rest of your life, who knows how far you'll come?
 
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sixpointer

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This is an important question you ask and I can really only skim the surface on this one but stop and read the following: Deut. 6, Matt. 19, Mark 12, Luke 10. What is hugely important is to get things in context so those chapters will help. 1) notice Jesus does not merely say near enough is good enough. It is the whole law (all 10 commandments summarised into 2) that Jesus speaks of and they are all to be kept with the entirity of one's being! We need to see the enormity of this and not minimise it at all. This IS the good thing you'd have to do IF you were to enter Heaven by keeping God's law! And you rightly say that it cannot be done! Jesus was NOT playing games here! The law serves different purposes eg shows us God's holy standard and is to show us what we must but cannot do. It shows us our fallenness. The person who asks what good thing can / must I do thinks that Heaven is obtainable by their works and so you direct such a person to the law of God. Do this and you shall live. IE attempt to do this with all your being and you will discover the more you do the huge gaps there are and so it shows that you can't! Thus the law is the school master that God uses to bring ppl to see their true condition, their inability and to see the One who is able and who HAS kept the law perfectly as a substitute. Anyway, enough for now. More to say but Romans 3, read that now. No ppl can be JUSTIFIED by keeping the law. I know, this raises more and more questions, but that's a good thing. Always remember context!
 
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