Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31 (NIV)
Marilynne Robinson once said, “If we are to consider the heavens, how much more are we to consider the magnificent energies of consciousness that make whomever we pass on the street a far grander marvel than our galaxy?” I think that’s a beautiful and elevated way of saying what I hear from old country preachers from time to time: “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re of no earthly good.”
The pursuit of God through Bible study is great. I enjoy diving into theology as much as the next person. I am glad there are those who are called to be Bible scholars and who teach. But sometimes I think we can get so caught up in what we are learning about Jesus that we forget the main thing is to be like Jesus. And what Jesus cared about most was love.
People don’t care what religion or denomination you are from when you’re visiting them in the nursing home. It doesn’t matter what you be- lieve about baptism if you’re running a food bank. If you help me carry my groceries, or encourage my kid in a ballgame, I’m not concerned whether we agree on doctrine. The truth is that the world couldn’t care less about our favorite theologians, Bible translations, or even whether we tithe.
People want to be loved in deep and authentic ways. They want us to be there in times of need. The only thing that matters is love. Jesus said the whole law could be summed up into two: love God and love your neighbor. Those things are challenging enough for me, day in and day out, so that if I never master any other concept, I’ll have enough to work on for the rest of my life.
Faith Step: Write down some tangible ways you can love your neighbor. Then, go and try them out!
