The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”

—James 2:8

When we think of loving our neighbors, we often think of the story of the Good Samaritan—helping those “neighbors” who need help even when they might not be in the category of people we consider desirable, even when it’s inconvenient, and even when it costs us personally. 

But we also need to think about what it means to love them “as we love ourselves.”

This requires forgiving others the same way we want to be forgiven, without holding grudges or continually bringing up past failures. We don’t punish them with our ongoing displeasure and irritation (1 Corinthians 13).

It requires considering how we hope others will treat us when we’re having a bad day and aren’t at our best. It’s treating them with grace and gentleness.

We also love ourselves by taking care of our needs. To love others this way, we must pay attention to them. Our neighbors may not always tell us about their needs, but if we’re attentive, we’ll be able to see if they need our time, financial help, friendship, listening ear, or something else that is within our power to give.

Loving our neighbors as ourselves requires sacrifice.

This is the kind of grace–filled love we would do well to show others—the kind that says, “I’m willing to go out of my way to help you in your trouble.” “I see your weakness and your failure, and I love you anyway.” “You’re not alone; I’m here to help.” 

It’s the kind of love that Christ extends to us all the time.

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