Love Your Neighbour as Yourself

‘...love your neighbour as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18, NIV) is a phrase we've all heard. But what does it actually mean? This phrase is layered in meaning:

1.  I am the One Sensing

We don’t actually know what exists outside of us. All we know is what our five senses tell us: sense of sight (eyes), sense of hearing (ears), sense of smell (nose), sense of taste (mouth) and sense of touch (body).

Our senses send a signal to our brain so the world I see is literally processed within me. It’s my senses sending a signal to my brain.

So ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ means you are the one sensing your neighbour. The one sensing your neighbour is yourself.

2.  Treat Others with Love

If I’m in self-reception I think only of myself. If I need a pillow I get a pillow. I don’t think of anybody else except myself.

If I’m in love I think only of others. If my neighbour needs a pillow I get him/her a pillow. I serve the needs of others before my own.

So ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ means treat your neighbour with love, as you would like to be treated with love.

3.  We Tell Each Other’s Story

The world I see tells the story of my intention. The world is a mirror of who I am. I see myself (my intention) in the world around me, in my family, friends and neighbours. This is known as The Mirror Effect.

If the world is telling my story, then the world is me. Me and the world are one and the same.

So ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ means your neighbour is yourself because your neighbour is a mirror of who you are.

4.  We are Each a Part of One Whole

If we assume there is one whole and we are each a part of that whole, then together we make up the completed whole.

For example, let’s say the whole is made up of Doug, Adam, Mary, Joseph and David. An individual person called Doug is a part of the whole.

While Doug stands as an individual, there are two things to note: the other parts of the whole are within Doug and Doug is in each of the other parts.

So ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ means a part of your neighbour is in you, and a part of you is in your neighbour.

DOUG		ADAM		MARY		JOSEPH		DAVID
Doug Adam Mary Joseph David		Doug Adam Mary Joseph David		Doug Adam Mary Joseph David		Doug Adam Mary Joseph David		Doug Adam Mary Joseph David

5.  The Creator

God is love. If we adopt the qualities of God and love one another, we usher in the Kingdom of God. As our qualities become similar to God’s qualities we become one with God.

So ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ means your neighbour is God and you are one with God.

Copyright © 2013 , Carter Kagume. May be used for research purposes only. May not be used for any commercial purposes.

Love and The Kingdom of God

What is Love?

Love is when you think of others instead of yourself. You put the needs of others before your own. You serve others and do everything you can to make them happy. “...love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18, NIV)

 

In this life we think only of ourselves. To think of others means we’d have to change the way we live our lives. This change is called laying down your life. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, NIV)

 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, NIV)

 

 

The Kingdom of God on Earth

 

The Kingdom of God is about love. “God is love.” (1 John 4:16, NIV)

 

If we adopt God’s quality of love then we adopt the Kingdom of God. Meaning if we love one another and think only of each other, we will have heaven on earth. The earth will change from being a place of self-reception to being a place of love and bestowal.

 

As Jesus prayed, “...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, NIV)

 

Copyright © 2013 , Carter Kagume. May be used for research purposes only. May not be used for any commercial purposes.