JoyfulWorks

JoyfulWorks

Monday, June 3, 2013

Who Am I? I Am a Good Samaritan.

Photo credit:
http://www.johngoodpasture.com
*"Interpersonal relations" is not often thought of as a Bible topic, but advice about dealing with other people makes up a large part of the teachings of Jesus and His apostles as well as the wisdom books of the Old Testament. Whether dealing with parents, children, spouses, family, friends, co-workers, or even enemies, the Bible's advice is spiritually sound and effective for promoting peace and harmony.

The Greatest Commandment
All of the New Testament teachings on interpersonal relations follow from Jesus' commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was most important, He replied,
The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these. (NRSV, Mark 12:26-31)
photo credit:
http://acandyministrybylisame.blogspot.com/
The English word "love" has many different meanings, but this "Christian love" of the Bible comes from the Greek word agape which means good-will and benevolent concern for the one loved. It is deliberate, purposeful love rather than emotional or impulsive love. The King James Version of the Bible often uses the word "charity" for this kind of love.

"Love your neighbor" was not a new commandment (Leviticus 19:18), but the people of Jesus' time had developed a rather narrow view of who should be considered a "neighbor." In His Parable of the Good Samaritan**, Jesus corrected that view and teaches us that a "neighbor" is anyone we come in contact with.


*Today's Who Am I? DailyDevo is an excerpt from http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_interpersonal.htm .

**The Parable of the Good Samaritan is in Luke 10:25-37.

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