What It Means to Love a Neighbor - Martin Wiles

The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31 NLT

The note was attached to the door; the decision had been made. But what the entity didn’t know was what it means to love a neighbor. They would soon find out.

At nine years of age, he was doing what most boys his age did in the summer: romping and playing. Until his sister noticed how yellow his eyes were. She ran inside to tell their mother, who immediately took him to the emergency room. The local hospital transferred him to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Two days later, he had a new liver.

This family was our neighbors, but we knew nothing about their tragedy. We only knew we hadn’t seen anyone at home for three weeks. Initially, their youngest son did well. Then his body began rejecting the liver. They made several trips back and forth to Charleston, and each time we waited for an update.

During their last trip, my wife noticed the local power company had taped a notice to their door. She knew what it was, caught the bearer of bad news, and asked how much the bill was. The mom had not been able to work due to the circumstances, and the dad had missed numerous days himself. If $450 wasn’t paid by the next day, their power would be disconnected—an added grief they didn’t need.

“Why don’t we take a love offering at church?” my wife asked.

Since no one but us knew the family, I didn’t know how the people would respond. But I decided to take a chance. We’d had the young man on our prayer list. On Sunday morning, the church gave $406. When I announced the total at the evening services, the remaining balance was quickly received. As soon as the power company opened on Monday morning, my wife paid the balance.

Loving my neighbor is a good feeling—whether they live beside me or not. Doing so also helps me obey what Jesus termed the second-greatest command. Only loving God with my entire being surpasses it.

Opportunities to love our neighbors—whomever and wherever they might be—abound. But like my wife, we must be attentive to the working of God’s Spirit in our spirits to see them. If we live life selfishly, we’ll miss most, if not all, of the opportunities God sends.

Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities to love your neighbor.

Father, enable me to love others as passionately as you love me.

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