Freedom Calls

As children of the one true God, saved by the precious gift of grace and faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to live a life that reflects the character of our Heavenly Father. One of the most profound and far-reaching commands in all of Scripture is found in Galatians 5:14, where the Apostle Paul writes, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In this blog, we will explore the significance of this command, and examine the insights of some of the greatest Christian thinkers and preachers in history, including Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, and D.L. Moody.

The Great Commandment

Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of loving our neighbors when He was asked by a lawyer, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). Paul echoes this teaching in Galatians 5:14, highlighting the fact that loving our neighbors is not just a suggestion, but a fundamental aspect of fulfilling the entire law.

Charles Spurgeon: Loving Our Neighbors is a Matter of Obedience

The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “To love our neighbor as ourselves is not merely a recommendation, but a command. It is not a thing which we may do or may not do, but it is an imperative necessity, and if we do not obey it, we shall be guilty of disobedience to the law of God” (Spurgeon, “The Royal Law,” 1879). Spurgeon’s words remind us that loving our neighbors is not an optional extra, but a fundamental aspect of living a life that is pleasing to God.

C.S. Lewis: Loving Our Neighbors is a Matter of Humility

C.S. Lewis, in his classic book “Mere Christianity,” wrote, “Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him” (Lewis, “Mere Christianity,” 1943). Lewis’s words highlight the importance of humility in loving our neighbors. We are not to wait until we feel like loving someone before we act; rather, we are to act in obedience to God’s command, and trust that the feelings will follow.

A.W. Tozer: Loving Our Neighbors is a Matter of Spiritual Maturity

A.W. Tozer, in his book “The Pursuit of God,” wrote, “The immature Christian is concerned with his own spiritual welfare, but the mature Christian is concerned with the welfare of others. He is not satisfied with his own salvation, but is zealous for the salvation of his neighbors” (Tozer, “The Pursuit of God,” 1948). Tozer’s words remind us that loving our neighbors is a hallmark of spiritual maturity. As we grow in our faith, we become increasingly concerned with the needs and well-being of those around us.

Watchman Nee: Loving Our Neighbors is a Matter of Sacrifice

Watchman Nee, in his book “The Normal Christian Life,” wrote, “The cross is the symbol of the Christian life. It means sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we must be willing to sacrifice our own interests for their sake” (Nee, “The Normal Christian Life,” 1939). Nee’s words highlight the importance of sacrifice in loving our neighbors. We are not to put our own needs and desires first, but to put the needs of others before our own.

D.L. Moody: Loving Our Neighbors is a Matter of Evangelism

D.L. Moody, in his book “The Overcoming Life,” wrote, “The best way to reach the lost is to love them. If we can get them to see that we love them, they will be more likely to listen to our message” (Moody, “The Overcoming Life,” 1896). Moody’s words remind us that loving our neighbors is not just a social obligation, but a vital aspect of evangelism. When we demonstrate genuine love and concern for others, we open doors for the Gospel and create opportunities for people to come to know Christ.

Loving our neighbors as ourselves is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. It is a matter of obedience to God’s command, humility, spiritual maturity, sacrifice, and evangelism. As we seek to live out this command in our daily lives, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). May we be challenged and encouraged to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to live out the radical implications of this command in our daily lives.