What does it mean to love your neighbour?

Question

Serious answers only please. I know that for Christians it is important and necessary to Witness - but how about 'you' as an individual. What else? What shoud you be like? What good qualities do you need to display in everyday life towards others?

WOW GREAT ANSWERS! YES THE COMMAND TO WITNESS IS STATED IN THE BIBLE - BUT THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT. I MENTIONED IT SO THAT I WOULDN'T GET A LOT OF ANSWERS ABOUT IT AS IF THAT WERE ALL THAT WERE NECESSARY - INSTEAD OF BEHAVIOUR, COMPASSION, ETC

sage - that was truly lovely

JEREMEY CALLAHAN - there is so much more to it than that. HAVE YOU NO RESPECT AT ALL. I already AGREE WITH YOU !!!!! That was not my question though!!!!!!!

JEREMEY CALLAHAN - there is so much more to it than that. HAVE YOU NO RESPECT AT ALL. I already AGREE WITH YOU !!!!! That was not my question though!!!!!!!

ILENE W - lovely thank you

Answer 1

Please read my whole answer. I am not "witnessing", I'm just telling you where I found the answer and what I think it means. The question you ask is answered in the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.(See Luke 10:25-37) The parable says, a certain man traveling from Jerusalem fell among thieves who robbed and beat him, leaving him for dead. Two walked past the dying man, The first to pass was a priest, the second to pass was a Levite, "but a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him."(Luke 10:33). The Samaritan then bound up the man's wounds, took him to an inn, and paid the inn keeper to care for him. Jesus then asked the lawyer, of the three,which was neighbor unto him who fell among the thieves? Then the lawyer replied, "He that shewed mercy on him." Then Jesus said "Go and do thou likewise." The significance of this parable lies in the social standing of the time of the three different people. First, we have a priest, a man of God, one who probably considered himself to be quite righteous. Second there was a Levite. Levites were those who watched over the temples. They were highly regarded in Jewish society. Samaritans however were considered very low class, very unworthy, the "scum of the earth" as far as the Jews at that time were concerned. Yet it was a Samaritan who showed COMPASSION! From this parable, it is my opinion that regardless of your standing in society, regardless of whether or not anyone in the world sees you doing it, to love your neighbor means to have compassion and mercy. Try to understand the pain and suffering of others, and do what you can to ease it. It doesn't have to be grand and attention getting (Oprah Winfrey style). Look for people living on your own street who are suffering from loneliness, addiction, fear, anything. Everyone needs someone to care about them. Everyone can make a diffrence and love their neighbor in some way.

Answer 2

Personally I honestly have love for everyone. I don't agree with the bad things people do, but I'm just as bad. It's pretty easy for me to care about someone because I know they just need the same thing I needed. Jesus. You just have to understand and try to look at where people are coming from. The things people do are a reflection of what they've been through. Compassion and empathy for others when they are hurting, sad, and even angry.

Answer 3

Who is your neigbor? Look at the story of the good semaritan. The problem in todays society is that people only want to love those who are nice to us, look good, or smell pretty. We pick and choose who we treat like we would want to be treated. The whole point of the story of the good samaritan was that we should love anyone who we come into contact with in our everyday lives. It doesn't matter what they look like or how they act or if we will become unpopular for being kind to them. We should love everyone and stop being like the priests and levites.

Answer 4

The first thing you need in order to love your neighbor is to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and you only get that by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins. Then you love your neighbor by not only by supplying their physical needs but also their spiritually needs. You should always lover your neighbor by giving them the gospel so they also can have eternal life. To love you neighbor is not just talking about the person next door but the whole world is your neighbor. God has given us all a ministry today and that is the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5: 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Answer 5

49:13 O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

Answer 6

Respect,sharing,caring,truthful,honest. It is important to lead by example. Let your life and actions be the witness to others of the power of Christ. Serve others. Peace.

Answer 7

I believe it means to have charity towards everyone. Charity is the pure love of Christ, be like Him. Do everything you can to help other people, no matter what their race, religion, whatever... I think we need to be examples and live the best life we can and follow in the Savior's footsteps.

Answer 8

Who Today Proves to Be Your Neighbor?
Today we think of neighbors as those living near us. The Greek word ple·si′on, translated “neighbor,” basically means “near.” The Bible, however, in both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures, views neighbor in a much broader sense.

The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ time limited “neighbor” to those who kept the oral traditions of their religion. Hence, they restricted their neighbor love to their fellow religionists. However, the love of Jehovah and Jesus went out to everyone. (Matthew 5:43-48) So must the love of true Christians today. To be Christians in more than name only, they must make themselves neighbors to all men and show neighbor love to all.

In what way is this love shown? Not by saying “Lord, Lord,” but by doing God’s will, by witnessing to others about Jehovah’s Kingdom. (Matthew 7:21; 1 John 5:3; Isaiah 43:10-12; Acts 1:8.) It is the only real and lasting help for today’s suffering humanity. Those who, like the neighborly Samaritan, are moved with pity by mankind’s sad and endangered condition, and who bring to them the healing good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom—they are the ones making themselves neighbors to all people. None are excluded—male or female, young or old, rich or poor, any nationality, any race, any religion, any skin color—all are viewed as neighbors to be helped by the Kingdom good news.

Out of love for neighbor, Jehovah’s Witnesses have for many years been heeding the command at Ephesians 4:25: “Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.” Millions have responded and have themselves taken up the proclamation of this truth. It is truth about Jehovah’s Kingdom under his Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus. It is truth that brings peace between neighbors. Best of all, it is truth that brings “the peace of God that excels all thought.”—Philippians 4:7.

Love for neighbor is one of the primary reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses preach to people.

If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 9

Well the short answer is anyone that you come in contact with Jesus gave us an example of who is your neighbour in Luke 10:29-37
Lu 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Lu 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Lu 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Lu 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Lu 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Lu 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Lu 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Lu 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Lu 10:37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Answer 10

What does it mean?
Probably that you are either an Alcoholic or strung out on Drugs.
Most people "love" hating their neighbors.
Face the fact that most human's do not like other humans!