Number Two

“This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The Golden Rule, in one form or another, all of the world’s religions and philosophies pay homage to it. Without a doubt there is an attraction in its simple wisdom. And why not? Treating others as one would be treated allows for a purity of spirit without the need for religious sentiments.
The great difficulty in the Golden Rule lies not in agreeing with it, but in living it. Forget about living the rule to the reflexive level, translating the ideal into a fairly consistent practice is beyond the capabilities of the best of us. That is why Jesus is very specific that this is the second great commandment.
The ability to love thy neighbor is derived directly and proportionally from the first command-- “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” The inner peace; honest self-view; and properly weighted self-esteem required to love others comes only from the surrender of oneself to God. Without such a surrender, ego remains enthroned in the heart and mind eliminating any possibility that self and others can be placed on an equal plane. The self which is incapable of yielding to God is equally incapable of yielding its desires for the sake of others.

Here’s the real kicker for those who are spiritual but not taught. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”