Loving Our Neighbour Is Loving Like Christ
Loving our neighbour is one of the most profound and practical expressions of our faith. It’s a command directly from Jesus, and it represents a love that reflects God’s heart for humanity. To love our neighbour is to demonstrate kindness, compassion, and selflessness to those around us, whether they are family, friends, or even strangers. But what does it really mean to love our neighbour? Let’s explore this deeply biblical concept and its implications for our daily lives.
Loving Our Neighbour Is a Command
In Matthew 22:39 (NLT), Jesus says, “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” Here, Jesus places loving others right next to the greatest commandment of loving God. This shows us that our love for God is not complete unless it spills over into love for the people around us.
The Greek word for "love" used here is agape (???p?), which signifies a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. This is not a mere feeling or an abstract concept—it’s a love that is shown through action. Loving our neighbour means actively seeking their well-being, treating them with dignity, and caring for them in practical ways.
Who Is Our Neighbour?
The question of who our neighbour is was asked of Jesus in Luke 10:29 (NLT), where a man asked, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), a powerful story that challenged the societal boundaries of the time.
In this parable, a Samaritan—a member of a group despised by the Jews—comes to the aid of a Jewish man who had been beaten and left for dead. While others, including religious leaders, passed by, the Samaritan showed compassion and mercy, going out of his way to care for the injured man. Jesus concludes by asking, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The answer was clear: the one who showed mercy.
This teaches us that our neighbour is not just the person who lives next door or someone within our immediate circle. Our neighbour is anyone in need, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status. Loving our neighbour means extending love beyond our comfort zones and showing kindness to people we might not naturally connect with.
Loving Our Neighbour Means Compassion
Compassion is at the heart of loving our neighbour. The Good Samaritan didn’t just feel pity for the wounded man—he took action. In the same way, 1 John 3:18 (NLT) says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
Loving our neighbour means we are moved by compassion to serve others in tangible ways. Whether it’s helping someone in financial distress, comforting a grieving friend, or simply being present for someone in need, our love must be expressed in deeds, not just words.
Loving Our Neighbour Means Sacrifice
True love for our neighbour often involves sacrifice. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan not only gave his time but also his resources to care for the injured man. He paid for the man’s lodging and medical care, going the extra mile to ensure he was well looked after.
In Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT), the Apostle Paul encourages us, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” This is the essence of sacrificial love—putting the needs of others before our own. Loving our neighbour means that we are willing to give of ourselves, whether that be time, money, or energy, to serve others in meaningful ways.
Loving Our Neighbour Is Forgiveness
An often overlooked aspect of loving our neighbour is the call to forgive. Relationships are not perfect, and we are bound to encounter situations where others wrong us. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love that includes forgiveness. In Colossians 3:13 (NLT), we are instructed, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is essential to loving others as God loves us. It means letting go of bitterness and resentment and choosing to extend grace, even when it’s undeserved. When we forgive, we reflect the heart of God, who has forgiven us completely in Christ.
Loving Our Neighbour Is Loving Like Christ
Jesus is the perfect model of what it means to love our neighbour. He exemplified humility, compassion, and sacrificial love throughout His earthly ministry. John 13:34-35 (NLT) records Jesus saying, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
To love our neighbour as Christ loves means we love unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. It means we extend grace, kindness, and mercy, even when it is difficult. And in doing so, we show the world what it means to be followers of Jesus.
Conclusion
Loving our neighbour is central to the Christian life. It’s not an optional extra—it’s a direct command from Jesus that reflects His love for us. It’s a love that is active, sacrificial, and compassionate. It challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace those in need, even when it requires sacrifice or forgiveness.
As C.S. Lewis once said, “Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”
Let’s commit to loving our neighbours with the kind of love that honours God, touches hearts, and transforms lives. This is how we reflect the love of Christ to the world around us.
