On Loving One's Neighbor

CARRIE H. SANDBERG

In the Gospel of Matthew we are told that a lawyer once questioned Jesus regarding "the great commandment in the law." The Master's reply, which must ever command attention, was: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

To one student of Christian Science came the persistent question, What does it mean to love God—to love God exclusively, supremely, "with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind"?

The first enlightening gleam by way of answer was that it means to love good. Then comprehension broadened to see that it means to love spirituality and not materiality, and extended to the revelation of the necessity of loving Truth— not merely the evidences of material sense. It was seen that in any measure to prove one's love for God, that which is good, spiritual, and true must be sought, depended upon, and put into practice. This simple process became an absorbing joy, followed by a great desire for some specific guide, some practical measuring rod, by means of which to watch the fuller demonstration or proof of the earnest desire, was found in Mrs. Eddy's statement in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 8) : "When loving, we learn that 'God is Love;' mortals hating, or unloving, are neither Christians nor Scientists." At first a great encouragement was felt upon reading these words; for the statement implied that the effort to love God practically would bring a fuller understanding of the meaning of the great fact that God is Love, and this would point the way to a more broadly inclusive use of the understanding thus gained. However, thought was abruptly arrested by the second clause in the statement, "Mortals hating, or unloving, are neither Christians nor Scientists." The word "unloving" stood out boldly with a new meaning, forcing the conclusion that unless a genuinely loving attitude were being definitely, intentionally, deliberately maintained toward all others, toward one's "neighbour," this would not be loving, but unloving. Has not our Master said, "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them"?

An unlovely picture paraded itself, demanding attention, a picture presenting indifference, self-sufficient independence, which in some instances seemed virtually to be inconsideration, an absorption in one's own affairs and interests that bordered on neglect of opportunities to reflect Him. All this and much more appeared persistently; and as it did so, Mrs. Eddy's words (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 114), "Christian Science teaches: Owe no man," came to thought. It was seen that much was being owed; that great, indeed, was the debt that had developed to one's "neighbour." Consideration was owed to a great degree, genuine interest in general and individual welfare, and in all that might contribute to the happiness and progress of others; a sympathetic appreciation of others' development and demonstration, and much more of a similar nature. Careless neglect of specific use of the qualities of consideration, loving interest, and sympathetic appreciation constituted evidence of being unloving.

As the student contemplated this unlovely array of material beliefs, deep gratitude developed for Christian Science, the Science which teaches that God, Mind, is All, and for the fact that since this is true, no tiniest part of the unlovely picture could ever have been true, nor could it ever have occurred; and fresh gratitude was felt because this stupendously freeing fact was demonstrable. The unreality of error was demonstrated two thousand years ago by Christ Jesus; and the student saw the present necessity for acknowledging and practically accepting this great fact. Mrs. Eddy states (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 151), "All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea;" and, "The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth."

Deep, humble, reverent, thankful acceptance displaced regret and remorse, and a true desire to love all genuinely and honestly held sway. With the practical use of this awakened desire came a beautiful progress, a ripening of experience, bright with evidences of God's precious love on every hand, and providing clear evidence of the fact that our love for God is proportionate to our love for man.

The Master's reply to the lawyer's question, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" carries with it infinite possibilities of application, which, when demonstrated, develop an ever deepening appreciation of the full and intensely practical import of his words.

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