Body
Backgrounds

• Note the question, the question response, and the answer.
• Love for neighbors depends upon how well we love ourselves.
• The followup question is self-serving. The legalist mind cannot but oppose genuine relationships. Consider some alternate, better questions.
  • Whose neighbor am I?
  • How can I be a neighbor?
  • Who is a neighbor? (Jesus' question)

• Notice the details we often overlook.
• When we live in the world, it is easy to walk in the world, to walk away from life, to walk on the other side.
  • The Popular side, the side of selfishness
  • The Inexpensive side, the side of materialism
  • The Easy side, the side of my comfort zone

• Do we love others, or do we try to get others to love us?
• Options for living (trilogies)
  • Do before they do unto you; do as they do unto you; do as you would want
  • Yours is mine; mine is mine; mine is yours
  • Iron Rule, Silver Rule, Golden Rule
  • Victim to exploit, nuisance to avoid, fellow-traveler to be helped
• By what rules do you live life? Jesus dealt with three basic types of people. The rule of power (Pharisees, religious leaders, political leaders) only leads to more victimization. The rule of selfishness is self-serving and tends identifies the nuisances of life. The rule of mutuality seeks the good of others, regardless.
• The ultimate question is, What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Conclusion