We live in a culture of customization with the ability to pick and choose to meet our preferences. What we see in Matthew 22:39, though, is that when it comes to loving people, we don’t get the luxury of picking and choosing. We are told that the greatest commandment is to love God, and that the second is like it – to love our neighbors as ourselves. With one simple word, the second commandment is elevated to equal importance as the first. We cannot love God without loving others. To truly embody this commandment, we must learn to love who God loves.

This seems easy on its face, but following this command by loving others as God has called us to is difficult work. It’s much easier to step back and wash our hands of others when we don’t agree with them, or they say something that offends us, or they look different from us, but even in these situations we are called to love. Author and researcher Brené Brown gives practical advice when she says, “People are hard to hate close up. Move in.” In these situations, we don’t get to choose to run the other way – instead we are invited to move towards in love, because as we see in Matthew 25:31-46, it’s by doing so that we truly express our love for God.

Questions for Discussion:

1. In Matthew 25:31-46 we are faced with the reality that our action or inaction for “the least of these” reflects our action or inaction towards God. In what ways is that terrifying? In what ways is it freeing?
2. Have there been times when you attempted to customize your faith, choosing which commands to follow, and who to apply them to?
3. What personal challenges must you overcome when loving others?
4. We all have room to grow in love – in what ways can you grow in love for God, others, and yourself this week?

Week 4: Loving Up Close
This week, take time to move towards others in love and service. Invite someone over for dinner who you wouldn’t normally invite – maybe a coworker or neighbor that you aren’t friends with. Take a meal to someone who is going through a difficult time – even if you don’t know what to say or how to help with their pain, show up. Take someone out for coffee who holds different views than you – ask questions, get to know them, and truly listen. Volunteer with an organization that serves a population that is different from your lived experience. These can all be incredibly uncomfortable, but a great first step towards loving others.