Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

REFLECT

Today we will focus on being strong inside by being generous and loving. There are close to 200 references in the old testament that talks about having a concern for your neighbour but it was Jesus who put the emphasis on loving your neighbour 'as yourself'. Paul emphasises in Phil 2:4 that we should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. It's almost like keeping an eye on the interests of others as well as your own.

Generally people interpret this as concentrate on loving yourself and then you will be able to love others better. But what Jesus is saying is that our concern for our own welfare is natural and should be matched by our concern for others. Whatever we want for ourselves, we should want it for others. Self-interest and other-interest are to be balanced.

ACT

Do for someone today that you would have done for self.