A command of the Lord
by Maria Rudolph
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If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’, you are doing right (James 2:8).
Read James 2:1–13
Do unto others as you would have them do to you! Many people, whether Christian or not, are using this as a rough guide. The original Christian version of this general rule of thumb has an important precursor: it points us to God, whom we are to love above all else. It is not our choice or ability to ‘love our neighbour’, but it is through the love of God and his sacrifice for us that we can do this.
I don’t know about you, but for me, it is easy to remind myself and others of loving my neighbour when it’s convenient for me. I also forget about it quickly when it causes inconvenience. Does that ever happen to you? When I’m already getting the mower out of the shed to help my elderly next-door neighbour keep their lawn looking good, it’s a nice pat on the back to confirm that I’m showing love to my neighbour. When I sit in the privacy of my home and feel challenged by people who annoy or frustrate me, I forget about the ‘loving my neighbour’ bit quickly and can jump to judgement or even unloving action. But loving our neighbour includes not talking negatively about others in and outside our church. It includes praying for God’s blessing and protection over those different from us, too.
Throughout the Epistle of James, he repeats the importance of putting our faith in action by caring for and being kind to those who annoy us. This could be those who are shabby-looking, those who are poor, those who drain us of all our energy because they are so needy, those who have different opinions to us – the words of James and his half-brother Jesus are clear:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on those two commandments (Matthew 22:37–40).
When we experience people talking about a ‘command of the Lord’ as rules that in their reading of Scripture must be kept at all costs, let us reflect on how these ‘commands’ are being presented in light of the command on which the whole Scriptures hang: loving God and loving our neighbour with all our heart. The Advent and Christmas seasons are such good times for putting our love of neighbour into action. Let us show the world that the love of Christ reaches beyond this time of celebration into every part of our lives. Let them see Jesus through us.
Loving God, we could never love others without you loving us first. We could never care for or share with anyone if you were not caring for and sharing everything you have with us. You give us so many things in abundance, yet we grumble among ourselves. Give me a grateful heart and pour your love into my heart so I can love my neighbour as myself. Allow me to love those I find hard to love and help others to see Christ through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria is overjoyed to be a candidate for ordination as a pastor of the LCANZ while serving the St Johns Perth congregation and supporting the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael, at Concordia Duncraig congregation in Western Australia. They are parents to three children who are busy with primary and secondary schooling. Maria also serves the church as a member of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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