Change Your Relationship- Neighbors

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I don't know about you, but I get easily frustrated. I'm really not a huge fan of dorm life- and this blog post comes at quite an ironic time. Just this afternoon I was dealing with an issue with my neighbors. You see, it's kind of cold outside. And I really don't like for my feet to be cold, so I love coming back to a dorm room after class that is all toasty warm. I love falling asleep as the heater kicks on and warms me up. I really don't like finding the air conditioning on sixty-eight and freezing my hiney off. It's really not all that pleasant. I really don't like trying to study and write a paper when my suite mates are screaming and squealing. I really don't like loud music while I'm trying to sleep. But, that is part of living as part of a community. In the book of Mark, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) We are commanded to love our neighbor, even when it's not what we want to do. I can claim to be a Christian and love God, but God also wants me to love my neighbor as myself. I like to put my needs above my neighbors needs. I like the heat to be on 70. She may like it to be on 68. If I loved myself, I would start a "Thermostat War" and insist upon it being on 70. But, if I love my neighbor, I can act with love. This doesn't mean I'm a pushover, it just means I act in love. I give in sometimes. I don't start nasty arguments. I respect the person that God made her to be. Is it always easy? Most definitely NOT. But, it's what God has commanded. It's what Jesus commanded. It's in the red letters of the Bible. That means it's important. If Jesus is going to elevate loving your neighbors to the level of loving your God...I'm thinking that means we should do it.