JUNE 27, 2014
Do
No Harm
Read: Romans
13:8-10
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of
the law. —Romans
13:10
Many consider the ancient
Greek physician Hippocrates as the father of Western medicine. He understood
the importance of following moral principles in the practice of medicine, and
is credited with writing the Hippocratic Oath, which still serves as an ethical
guide for today’s medical doctors. One key concept of the oath is “to do no
harm.” It implies that a physician will do only what he thinks will benefit his
patients.
The principle of doing no
harm extends to our relationships with others in everyday life. In fact, benevolence
is central to New Testament teaching about loving others. In reflecting on the
law of God, Paul sees that love is the intent behind many biblical commands:
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law”
(Rom. 13:10).
Each day as we follow
Jesus Christ our Savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives
of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, “Does
this reflect Christ’s concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?” Such
a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and
help those in need.
Lord, I admit that it is
easy to be consumed with my
own wants and needs. Thank
You that You showed
us how to be concerned for
others too. Help me
to follow Your example in
caring for others.
Caring for the burdens of
others helps us to forget about our own.
Insight
Paul’s words in today’s
passage remind us of Jesus’ words to the young teacher of the law who asked
what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-29). Love for God and
neighbor is the epitome, fulfillment, and intention of all the laws of the Old
Testament. In Luke, Jesus went on to say who our neighbor is and what love for
that person should look like (vv.30-37). Paul does a similar thing for the
people at the church in Rome. After telling them to love their neighbor in
chapter 13, he goes on to tell them in chapter 14 to consider the effect their
actions will have on their neighbor. Love is to guide all our actions.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
