rumitoid

I read this quote maybe thirty years ago and it has fascinated me ever since. The implications are staggering. What would it mean for our giving to be so natural that there would be no reason to hesitate or ponder?

It is curious that way back then this quote from a Chinese philosopher had me immediately think of "Love your neighbor as yourself." And in such a way that it would not be charity to feed and clothe the poor but the same as buying ourselves a hearty breakfast or a new suit. Our neighbor, in effect, is our self. With his hunger our stomach would growl. With his thirst our lips would be parched. With his pain we would hurt.

Note Jesus did not say in Mt12:30-31 Love your neighbor as you love yourself (even though some translations use this misquote). Why not? In the above sentence the spirit is too removed, a little like looking at yourself in a mirror, admiring your image, and saying I love myself because of such and such and such. The abstract can easily enter into "as you love yourself." How do I love myself? Let me count the ways. Do I? Yet if us in direct need, action is taken.

You on the side of the road beaten and bloodied, forsaken, needing care, food, water and a place of shelter is immediate. No other appointments to keep. No thought can I afford it? No thought about the time and energy needed. No thought about how good am I. No confusion about deserving. Could I boast of giving, being charitable, if I did that for myself. What sacrifice is involved? Where is the virtue?

I think this is what Jesus had in mind when he said "Love your neighbor as yourself." Why? For it follows the First Great Commandment, which is like it, that demands all our heart, mind, soul, and strength--the totality of who we are--in flesh, spirit, and grace. To see in this way, I feel, is as Jesus saw.

His love was all for us, not himself. And in a New Commandment he gave, he tells us we are to be the same: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John13:34) This New Commandment is far, far different than "Love your neighbor as yourself" for the self is to act without thought of self but by spirit and grace, as Christ did, with perfect obedience to the father.

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" Mt6:25

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Taoism is an amazing philosophy...

And a great way to kill an afternoon if all one wishes to do is engage in self-dialofue and reflect on the universe...

debeda

GREAT post! I do believe we should give to those in true need without thought or hope of repayment. I also think the admonishment to love others as yourself is multi layered. It's not, I believe , just about giving. It's also about expecting. We all have many expectations of ourselves, both realistic and not. Just so, we should understand the same in others and assume best intentions, so to speak. Keeping others down to Lord it over them, under the guise of charity, shows a massive lack of respect for them as the powerful spiritual beings they are, as are we all. Sometimes it takes some adversity and striving to come to that realization. So we should never denigrate others but always seek to inspire and empower them. Then there is true need. When someone is beaten and battered in a ditch, or being attacked for instance. That is a case where the spirit of us should be allowed free rein. Where we jump to help it regardless of the cost to us because it is critical and greatly needed. No thought of self
I'm sure you've been in these situations where you spring into action without thought on a strangers behalf. So, truly, these are important thoughts and questions that, if we allow our spirit to shine through are not thoughts at all but allowing our spirits, the best that we are, to have control and guide us.

rumitoid

Taoism actually brought me back to Christ after a brief hiatus. I found what it said often reflective of what Christ said, though lacking spirit n grace, the crucial element to actual transformation. In my eyes.

rumitoid

By Jove, you got it! Really wondered if I managed to make enough sense. Thank you for reading it. Needed a voice like yours to ease my doubts. And you added some needed elements, such as "assume best intentions" and "seek to inspire and empower them."

debeda

Why thank you kind sir! Questions and statements like those you posted are important to reflect on from time to time to clarify our thinking and beliefs.