"Love thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art poor, and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly mansion; thou seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his sumptuous banquets; God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth, and think no hard thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own lot, if thou canst not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour, and wish that he were as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not envy him.
Mayhap, on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside the poor. Do not scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art bound to love them. The world calls them thy inferiors. In what are they inferior? They are far more thine equals than thine inferiors, for "God hath made of one blood all people that dwell upon the face of the earth." It is thy coat which is better than theirs, but thou art by no means better than they. They are men, and what art thou more than that? Take heed that thou love thy neighbour even though he be in rags, or sunken in the depths of poverty.
But, perhaps, you say, "I cannot love my neighbours, because for all I do they return ingratitude and contempt." So much the more room for the heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior, instead of bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall win the most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly, still loving thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire on their heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please them, but to please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love, thy Master hath not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to Him as if it had been acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so doing thou art following the footsteps of Christ.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I’m struggling with that saying, “You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.”
Some people serve others naturally. Love thy neighbors! It comes easily.
At times, piled on top, are expectations from others to go beyond acceptable comfort levels to dangerous levels. Where self sacrifice to help others is expected from one person but not another. (called exploitation!) It’s a terrible place to be….
It’s easy to walk away and say, I won’t serve, every time I do… I lose more than what I was able to give!
Proverbs 11:24-25
King James Version
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Hahahaha NOT The case. (I left my home in the care of two family members while I was out on RN travel assignment. They didn’t pay anything! I lost the house, utilities were in my name went to collections I had to pay, and I just paid off $2,000 of back taxes!) I lost everything trying to help others!
They say I’ll be rewarded in the afterlife… but the here and now gets pretty rough!
Praying that it is returned five-fold on this side. That is theft, pure and simple.
Thanks! It was pretty awful…
...ouch...
Proverbs 17:15
"He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an ABOMINATION to the LORD".
God forbids the acceptance of a bribe to pervert justice...
....and warns that He will require it of the judge if it is done.