"Love your neighbor." Perhaps he rolls in wealth while you are poor, your little cottage sitting side-by-side with his lordly mansion. Every day you see his estates, his fine clothes, his sumptuous feasts. God has given him these gifts. Do not covet his wealth or think hard thoughts against him. Be content with your own lot, if you cannot better it. But do not look at your neighbor and wish he were brought down to your level. Love him, and then you will not envy him.

Or perhaps you are the wealthy one, and the poor live near you. Do not scorn to call them neighbor! Own that you are bound to love them. The world calls them your inferiors. In what are they inferior? They are far more your equals than your inferiors, for God has made all nations from one blood to dwell on the face of the earth. It is your coat that is better than theirs—but you are by no means better than they. They are human beings. And what are you more than that? Take heed that you love your neighbor even though he be in rags or sunken in the depths of poverty.

But perhaps you say, "I cannot love my neighbors! For all I do, they return ingratitude and contempt."

So much the more room for the heroism of love! Would you be a featherbed warrior instead of bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most shall win the most! And if rough be your path of love, tread it boldly, still loving your neighbors through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire on their heads. And if they are hard to please, seek not to please them, but to please your Master. Remember—if they spurn your love, your Master has not spurned it, and your deed is as acceptable to him as if it had been acceptable to them.

Love your neighbor. For in so doing, you are following the footsteps of Christ.