An Inconvenient Love

The fourth Wednesday in February is celebrated as "Inconvenience Yourself Day." If there's a better day to consider the "golden rule," I honestly don't know what it is.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." The words of Jesus, recorded in Luke 6:31. He clarified in Matthew 22.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Here's the tricky part, though. This love, this doing unto others, doesn't mean we act only when it's convenient. It's easy to be charitable as long as it's not out of your way to do so. A practical example: a friend asks for a lift. Well, if we're already going that direction, no problem, right? But what if we have to change out of our sweatpants first? Disrupt plans? Delay our arrival elsewhere by a few minutes? 

Jesus didn't say, "love your neighbor after yourself;" He said "as." This means putting others first. Putting their needs ahead of our own, even when it's not convenient to do so. It's an easy thing to say -- but far less so to put into practice.

So, why not give it a shot today. Go out of your way -- inconvenience yourself -- to help someone out. Actively be on the lookout for somebody who needs a touch of grace today, and be the hands and feet of Jesus.