The hardest command to obey?

[sondring7]

Welcome to the forum.

I agree that ”Follow me” does entail love your neighbor as yourself. Does it entail more than that?

Within your capabilities, loving your neighbor as yourself is not an easy thing to do.
If your close relative was homeless you would do your absolute best to have them with you until they had somewhere else to live, would you do the same for a total stranger ?

 

[Lambano]

Love your neighbour as yourself, follow me was a teaching of Jesus to a particular time

Well, if Jesus's commands are too hard (and they are), I guess that's one way to get out of being responsible for obeying them. "Those commands were given to somebody else, not me."

I think if we understood that this is what it means to live as God's covenant people, to live as Jesus's people, rather than worrying about getting saved, we'd be a lot less neurotic.

 

[sondring7]

Well, if Jesus's commands are too hard (and they are), I guess that's one way to get out of being responsible for obeying them.

When you see a homeless person, do you love them as yourself & take them home till they have somewhere else to live ?

 

[Lambano]

When you see a homeless person, do you love them as yourself & take them home till they have somewhere else to live ?

Yes, Jesus's commands are hard.

I don't want people to think that Jesus's commands are for somebody else. Considering Jesus as irrelevant has a real good chance of getting you in trouble with Jesus Himself, and I don't want that. I do want people to have the mindset that this is what it means to live as Jesus's people. Then we can get together and work out ways to show love to the homeless and others who need it. Okay?

 

[sondring7]

Yes, Jesus's commands are hard.

I don't want people to think that Jesus's commands are for somebody else. Considering Jesus as irrelevant has a real good chance of getting you in trouble with Jesus Himself, and I don't want that. I do want people to have the mindset that this is what it means to live as Jesus's people. Then we can get together and work out ways to show love to the homeless and others who need it. Okay?

.........and work out ways to show love to the homeless
If your bro/sis was homeless would you make room in your house for them ?
Now what about a stranger ?
They are both your neighbor.
Rather than make excuses for not following that commandment why not simply confess that like all us you too are a sinner. Okay?

 

[Lambano]

Rather than make excuses for not following that commandment why not simply confess that like all us you too are a sinner. Okay?

Of course. Was there ever any doubt about that?

 

[sondring7]

Of course. Was there ever any doubt about that?

No doubt and fortunately we remain saved even when we sin, even if we die during sin, we remain saved because if we didn't then the free gift to believers is no longer a gift but becomes a reward for effort.

 

[Riven]

Probably to love your enemy.

 

[Lambano]

No doubt and fortunately we remain saved even when we sin, even if we die during sin, we remain saved because if we didn't then the free gift to believers is no longer a gift but becomes a reward for effort.

This isn't technically a "command", but I've found this teaching of Jesus's to one of the most difficult teachings to implement, especially when our focus is getting ourselves saved and remaining saved. I hope Matthias will consider it within the scope of the OP.

 

[TitusTwoWife]

I think if we understood that this is what it means to live as God's covenant people, to live as Jesus's people, rather than worrying about getting saved, we'd be a lot less neurotic.

I agree.

 

[Lambano]

Probably to love your enemy.

That one is a special kind of difficult.

 

[TitusTwoWife]

I want to do more to lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth. I don't want to miss opportunities to do good because I love pretty clothes too much.

 

[Lambano]

Relevant to the OP: One of the difficulties of the "Love" commandments is that the right way to show love often takes wisdom to see. For example, I see some chatter on multiple threads about helping the homeless. You might think giving them money is the loving thing to do; it can also be the WRONG thing to do.

 

[TitusTwoWife]

Relevant to the OP: One of the difficulties of the "Love" commandments is that the right way to show love often takes wisdom to see. For example, I see some chatter on multiple threads about helping the homeless. You might think giving them money is the loving thing to do; it can also be the WRONG thing to do.

Personally, I think what the homeless do with money given to them is their business and they're then responsible. But you could always offer food or water or have little supply bags on hand.

 

[Lambano]

Personally, I think what the homeless do with money given to them is their business and they're then responsible.

If there is a high probability of causing harm, then you have to ask yourself, "Is there a better way?"

That's why...

 

[TitusTwoWife]

If there is a high probability of causing harm, then you have to ask yourself, "Is there a better way?"

That's why...

Love does have a painful quality to it. Once you soften your heart, there is no way to protect it that wouldn't also ruin the softness of it.

 

[TLHKAJ]

Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow. Not to be anxious about it. My mind loves to come up with concerns that turn into worry. I have to actively practice relaxing and just being concerned with today.

Amen, sister. And there is a balance between trusting God and not worrying ...and being wise and prudent to prepare when and how God leads us to prepare for things to come. We follow His prompting to do those things, but do not trust in preps. Am I making sense?

For example ....I can be going about my day, doing housework, tending animals, etc, when God prompts me to go buy some fruit trees, or top off my gas tank, or buy some canned foods, or fill some 5 gallon jugs of water. So I go do those things, and trust He knows why ...but I don't have to preoccupy my mind with what's to come.

Psalms 20:7
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

 

[TitusTwoWife]

Amen, sister. And there is a balance between trusting God and not worrying ...and being wise and prudent to prepare when and how God leads us to prepare for things to come. We follow His prompting to do those things, but do not trust in preps. Am I making sense?

For example ....I can be going about my day, doing housework, tending animals, etc, when God prompts me to go buy some fruit trees, or top off my gas tank, or buy some canned foods, or fill some 5 gallon jugs of water. So I go do those things, and trust He knows why ...but I don't have to preoccupy my mind with what's to come.

Psalms 20:7
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

I agree there is balance. The wise Proverbs 31 woman was prepared in the winter and summer because she saw to it they had what they needed.