Love Your Neighbour

This bible verse, taken from Matthew 22:39, focuses on simply doing for others, as you would do for yourself.

Ted Engstrom, evangelical leader and author, further outlines this in "The Fine Art of Friendship", with the following:

1) Love is unconditional. If it’s not…it’s manipulation.

2) Our natural tendency is toward self-centeredness (which isn’t related to a healthy self-esteem); that’s why it takes a conscious effort to love.

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3) Each of us is a one-of-a-kind creation. Therefore it takes time - often a long time - to understand one another.

4) Do you really listen and try to understand what people are saying? Or do you listen in order to give an answer; in other words, by letting the other person talk while you mentally formulate your response? One who loves, listens with understanding.

5) Simply being there to care, whether or not you know exactly what to do. Loving your neighbour involves fulfilling, in a visible way, Christ’s promise, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV).

6) Just because God put you in a leadership position doesn’t mean He made you ‘better’ than others. Paul warns the leader ‘not to think of himself more highly than he ought to’ (Romans 12:3 NKJV).

7) Be generous with your praise and encouragement. Inspiring words build up the self-esteem of others, whereas critical comments kill enthusiasm and love.