Loving your neighbor isn’t simply a heart or feeling issue
and the definition of neighbor isn’t simply those whom I would choose to call
neighbors. The definition of neighbor
includes the poor in the land, whoever they may be. Farmers were required to leave behind the
edges of the harvest and the gleanings, they can’t go and harvest the same
field twice to make sure they get everything.
It applies specifically to farmers so that the poor may eat but it seems
to me that we should think more broadly about what that might mean for all of
us in our lives. We waste a great deal
of food in our house and in the country for instance. If we kept these commandments towards our
neighbor we would have a far better world.
These are worth meditating on each day and setting as your resolve, to
treat people as God commands here.
When our boys were little there was a song we sang to them
that included the line, “Be careful little eyes what you see.” We are indeed creatures of sight, what we see
we covet. I assume blind people covet
sight. Whatever we lack that we know
about we want. Certainly appeal isn’t
limited to what we see, but we are constantly told that we should keep our eyes
fixed on the treasures in heaven, God’s kingdom, in order that we not be
attracted by things of earth. God
created all things good but we aren’t to value them above Him and that is a
great temptation. The love of money is
responsible for breaking many of the commandments in our first lesson. We want things so much that we are willing to
do nearly anything to get them, no matter the cost to others or in broken
relationships, we can always find new friends.
Ask King David how costly coveting the things he saw was to him.
Paul has no patience for idlers, particularly in
Thessalonica, as they have time to meddle and cause problems. There were some who had determined that there
was no reason to work to earn their keep as the end was near but Paul said that
if you don’t work, you don’t eat. He
gives what should be our ideal for life in community with one another, loving
one another by respecting those who labor for the kingdom in teaching and
pastoring, encouraging one another, helping one another, being patient with one
another, helping one another in any way we can, and doing good to one
another. The Christian community is to
be characterized by love in these ways.
It is also to be characterized by constant worship, in prayer, rejoicing
and thanksgiving. Community is part of
the witness of the church, always has been in God’s plan.
To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore!
Eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore!
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