By Ustaz Mark Bang
Whenever you’re making a choice between things, you aim for the best or you choose the most quality of them for yourself without considering others; in the same way, if you wish to show kindness to another, give them the best of what you have: give them the one you’d wish for yourself.
Don’t keep the good things for yourself and give the bad things to others, but share the good things you have with others because you yourself won’t be happy if someone, upon sharing something with you, gives you the bad one and keeps the good or the best one for themselves.
Simply put, give the same happiness you wish for yourself to others; don’t do what would displease or make others sad because you yourself don’t want to be displeased or saddened by another. Make everyone happy, even if this costs you your own happiness. Now, this command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the second most important commandment, which satisfies or fulfils the first most important commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
This means you obey the first most important commandment by obeying the second most important commandment. And this ultimately means if you love God more than yourself (the first most important commandment), you’d love your neighbor like yourself (the second most important commandment), and if you love your neighbor like yourself, then you love yourself just as God loves Himself.
The second most important commandment regards another as yourself, but the first most important commandment regards others as God Himself: meaning God is far important and greater than yourself, so if you’re doing or giving something for or to someone, you should do your best or give your maximum best or your best service because you’re doing it for or giving it to God (not the person, even though physically you’re doing it for them, but you’re doing it in the spirit of doing it for God).
So even if you don’t love yourself enough to treat others well like yourself, you must consider the first and most important command: that you’re doing it for God Himself. If you see everyone as ‘God’ and treat them as such, you become holy in God’s sight, and God accepts you.
These two laws are alike, just like a father and his son are alike, but one is greater than the other because God is more important than one’s own self. So if you would give one of your two pencils to your neighbor (whom you see as your own self), then this time you should give both pencils to your neighbor because you’re seeing your neighbor now as God Himself and not as yourself anymore. Or you should love your neighbor more than yourself (i.e., give all to them) to fulfill the first most important commandment, unlike the second most important commandment, which is to love your neighbor exactly like yourself (i.e., share with them). Knowing your ability to light up where you intend gives you the power to add light to anyone and everyone in your experiences.
What we do to, say about, judge as, or intend towards others… we do, say, judge, and intend…toward ourselves. You don’t need to understand it. but it still is the truth. The more often we are aware of ourselves—our ‘love’ identity—the more love appears in our experiences. We experience more of what we think about.. or are aware or conscious of.. the most. To love your fellow man, and therefore yourself… Imagine your own light of love covering them.. entering them. That is it. You will light up their life in some unknown way, and your own. Bless them in your heart and mind… or send an intention to them… of abundance, joy, and health each time you see or think of them… only takes a second, and you are getting two for one.. blessings them and yourself.
If we are conscious of the love we have to give, we will notice more love all around us throughout our experiences. If we are conscious of the ugly all around us—the pain and fear—we will notice more of that all around us throughout our experiences. Add light to others and yourself with your imagination, your awareness that you can, and your intentions to add love to your fellow man. Hence, adding love to yourself. When we love ourselves and accept who we actually are (stop identifying ourselves by our failures, judgments, or accomplishments), we easily spill that light, magic, and love we have upon the world. Just by being ourselves. Sending love and blessings for more intentions to shine.
Jesus said the greatest commands of the Law given to Israel through Moses were to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The second doesn’t make much sense apart from the first. We must recognize that we are derivative beings.
We are created by another to reflect his image in the world. We get our life, strength, being, and purpose from Him. Other people have been made in his image, too, and have been given the same mandate to reflect him in the world. Our love for others comes from a recognition that they also reflect God, even if imperfectly. When it comes to making distinctions, it is easy to love only those who are close to you, blood-related or people you like hanging out with; it is harder to love those you don’t know.
But Jesus is teaching us that each person has value and worth, and we should seek to find it. Once we embrace the image of God in someone else, it is much easier to love them.
Personally, I have found a kindred heart and closer relationship with other believers from far away that is closer to some of my family members who are not believers. There is an instantaneous recognition, love, and respect that is lacking elsewhere. But as a follower of Jesus, I want to find a way to love all people and give equal respect to all. “Do to others what you would like others to do to you” is a modern translation. In other words, don’t do anyone any harm, physical or otherwise (that includes not spreading gossip about them), and don’t ignore them in their time of need. Help them if you can.
Jesus then went on to say that in God’s eyes, everyone is a neighbor, not just the person next door or those who we like or who agree with us. The parable that follows those words, the Good Samaritan, shows a man going out of his way to help a man in need even though that person would, under everyday circumstances, have been considered an enemy, someone to despise, to gloat over his misfortune, possibly even to kick while he was down.
Not only did the Good Samaritan help the victim, but he put himself at risk should whoever caused the victim’s injuries still be around, and it cost him both time and money. In contrast to the Samaritan, Jesus mentioned two passersby who considered themselves godly and who did nothing to help. It is pretty obvious they were under God’s judgment for their lack of concern, though they would have felt justified in not helping an “enemy.” Basically, Jesus is saying to imagine yourself in some kind of need. If you would like a helping hand, give one to someone else in need. More than that, help someone else out even if you are the fiercely independent type who doesn’t like accepting help. “Public Staunchest Ally.”
The writer of this article is a human rights activist, writer, and professional teacher.