They asked Jesus and His answer was simple. Love God, Love your fellow man, and with the same amount, Love yourself…
I find it interesting that it is those three things. It’s the perfect balance. Unlike the work based project/service triangles of time/cost/quality where you can only have two… if you want it fast, quality or cost will suffer. If you want quality, it will take longer and/or cost more. Etc, etc… you always have to give up something…
But God’s version is a perfect balance of love. You can’t do one without the other. Love is additive, actually it’s a multiplier. It is very difficult to Love a neighbour if you struggle with loving yourself. And conversely, loving God without loving your neighbour becomes an empty religious habit… lip service and a clanging gong.
“Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask.”
(Romans 12:9 TPT)
I was thinking about this… it is easy to “love my neighbour” he is on the other side of the fence. I can wave at him, have a friendly chat and be done with it. Neighbour loved? Check ✅
But that’s not what Jesus meant, nor Paul.
Both Jesus and Paul expects us to climb in and get dirty. … what about that department at work that is always getting the project delayed? Are they not your department’s neighbour? It doesn’t mean doing their job for them. It means using your resources and skills to make their work simpler. Going the extra mile!
(Pro tip: do not “help out” the accounting department! Rather bring them coffee and cookies!)
Paul actually explains it a bit: Love your neighbour unconditionally and serve them inside your skill set.
“God’s marvellous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy….”
(Romans 12:6)
But if your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well.
If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others.
Encouragement? then use it often to encourage others.
If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare.
If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership in love, not dictatorship.
And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion. (And if you don’t have this “gift” then practice it until you get it.)
I think you get the idea of what Paul is trying to say to the Romans, and by extension, us. If you have a little, share it. If you have some time, give it.
But this is the important thing.
These are gifts, freely given to us. Give freely!! and expect nothing in return.
