A genuine appreciation of our neighbor is built through intentional friendship and fellowship, and implies community. Love is not passive; it involves rolling up our sleeves and giving of ourselves. Like the farmer who receives no harvest reward in the autumn of the year without first putting in the hard work of plowing and planting, watering and weeding, we cannot love our neighbor unless we put some work into it. The details of that work, clearly spelled out in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, are to feed and clothe and welcome and visit and care for those around us.
The commandment to love our neighbor does not include any qualifiers. It does not say that we should love those who are enjoyable to be around. It does not say that we should love those who are nice to us, or who will return a favor. It does not say that we should love those who are easy to get along with. Jesus’ commandment to love presumes all our neighbors.
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