If there’s one thing the Bible has made abundantly clear, it’s this: love matters. But when Paul wrote in Galatians 5:14 that “the entire law is summed up in one command: Love your neighbor as yourself,” he wasn’t giving us an easy-to-follow checklist. Far from it, actually. He was throwing down a challenge so profound, it’s been tripping us up for two millennia.
Let’s be honest: loving others the way you love yourself isn’t a walk in the park. It’s not as simple as lending a cup of sugar to the neighbor next door or holding the door open for a stranger. Sure, those are great acts of kindness, but Paul’s words cut deeper. They call us to a kind of love that’s intentional, selfless, and, frankly, a little uncomfortable.
Here’s why: we’re wired to look out for ourselves first. It’s human nature. We’re survival-driven creatures who instinctively put “number one” at the top of the priority list. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with self-care or self-preservation, this natural tendency makes it hard to fully grasp what it means to love others as we love ourselves. It means we’re supposed to care about someone else’s well-being, happiness, and needs with the same intensity and effort we put toward our own. That’s a tall order.
And then there’s Jesus’ famous guidance in Matthew 7:12, often called the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” It sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? Treat others the way you want to be treated. But here’s the kicker: we often interpret this through the lens of our own convenience. We might think, “I wouldn’t want someone to bother me right now, so I’ll just stay out of their business,” or “If I were them, I’d want someone to give me advice, so I’ll tell them what I think they should do.” But true empathy and love demand that we step outside of our own perspective and truly see and feel what others need. That’s not just tricky—it’s revolutionary.
The truth is, both Paul and Jesus are calling us to live in a way that’s radically countercultural. They’re asking us to go beyond our instincts, our comfort zones, and even our sense of fairness. Loving your neighbor as yourself doesn’t mean just being polite or avoiding harm. It means actively seeking the good of others, even when it’s inconvenient, even when it costs you something.
So how do we even begin to tackle this? Maybe the answer lies in small, consistent steps. Start by noticing people. Really noticing them. What are their struggles? What brings them joy? Then, ask yourself: “If I were in their shoes, how would I want someone to help me, encourage me, or show up for me?” And then, here’s the hard part—do it. Not to earn brownie points or feel good about yourself, but because love, at its core, is a choice. It’s a decision to put someone else’s needs on par with your own and act accordingly.
Will we get it right every time? Of course not. The beauty of these teachings isn’t in our perfection but in our persistence. The world doesn’t need perfect people—it needs people willing to try, fail, and try again to love better.
In a world that often feels divided and self-centered, living out these truths is nothing short of revolutionary. Maybe that’s why these passages have confounded us for two thousand years. They’re not instructions for easy living; they’re a blueprint for life as it could be. A life where love isn’t just a feeling but a daily choice to put others first.
It’s not easy. But then again, the things that matter most never are.
In His Service,
Minister A. Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 