In the previous post called "Love your Neighbor: The Eleventh Commandment?" We learned that loving others was an expression of our love for the Creator. We also learned that love is an act of giving not taking.
Understand that there are times to withhold as a form of loving. We can give by not giving. A child misbehaves so the child will lose a toy or a treat. This is a means to change a bad behavior. When reading the surrounding passage of Leviticus around 19:18 we find many actions of love. These are not simply emotional responses which love these days typically is based upon. We are being instructed to do for others, not only for their benefit but for the community and most importantly for our Creator.
The Torah, when properly understood and applied is a road map toward an altruistic existence with our Creator and those around us. We are to look out for the betterment of others. Not for their sake or even ours but rather according to the will of our Creator. What does this mean? By practicing Torah with the intention of pleasing our Creator's will and not for our gain we are actually benefiting everyone including ourselves.
Imagine a world where all of our energies are focused upon altruistic efforts and not of self gain.
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