3. Freedom’s call: love God and neighbor
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through
love....The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself’" (Galatians 5:6b, 14, NIV).
How complicated does this need to be? We all know something of what
this means but the rest of it is on-the-job training. Unfortunately, we
will often pass on the chances we are offered to become a person who
really loves others. For example, I remember a few years ago when a new
family moved in across from where I was living—I wasn’t oblivious to
the fact they could have used some help putting in their new lawn but I
sure didn’t offer. Thus, in exchange for a day in front of the
television, I missed out on really bonding with a new neighbor family whom
I never did get to know.
Freedom also applies to dating and relationships. Thus, if you are
truly desiring to act towards your dates, lovers, partner, etc., with the
kind of love you have for yourself (i.e., "love your neighbor as
yourself"), then what does that mean to you? Think about what
makes you feel good about yourself, then treat others with the same
respect. Ask yourself dozens of questions like that and you’ll realize
you know a lot more than you realized about how to honor and love your
"neighbors" at all levels of intimacy.
