Neal A. Maxwell (deceased), in his book ‘All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience’ wrote: . . .
The lessening of the load of another comes, in part, from our very expression of genuine concern transmitted to the burdened. Empathy expressed can do much to lift the heart of another. Objectively, in fact, the burden (the loss of health, a loved one) may remain, but the capacity to cope and to carry on is increased by our administering the adrenalin of affection.
The two great commandments are inextricably bound up with each other. Mortals can clearly do much good even though they are disbelivers, but someday they will see that even their good deeds were done because of who they really are and because of forces deep within them that moved them to such action—even though they did not, at the time, recognize or acknowledge those divine forces within. [i]
For those who think they can keep the second great commandment without keeping the first, it may be enough for now to say that we cannot really love others unless we know who others really are. How can we know their deepest needs without knowing their true identity? Yes, the glass of water given by a disbeliever to the thirsty individual is just as refreshing and the crust of bread just as filling. But irreverence for, or an unwillingness to acknowledge, the ultimate source of both the water and the bread keeps the moment of giving and receiving from its completeness. As the Savior said, water from the well is useful, but we will thirst, again and again, unless we drink of the living waters. (John 4:13-14) Disbelievers do good, but it is a good that is not good enough.
We cannot say we love God if we hate our fellow men. Likewise, we cannot love our fellowmen if we do not rightly regard and know our God!
As in all things, the example of Jesus Christ is a perfect example for us in the matter of serving and loving others. He displayed His perfect love for all mankind by various means—means that, strangely enough, because we are so often reminded of them, sometimes need to be looked at from a distance, as it were.
Jesus loved people enough to teach them specific things. He did not merely live among people as so many of us do, for co-existence is no real brotherhood. Teaching is a significant form of service, just as is witnessing to one’s neighbor.
Jesus loved others enough to share His work with them, as appropriate. Giving others meaningful things to do is a part of loving and serving. Work is one of the ways we witness our love for others, for genuine love is not an abstract thing at all.
Jesus loved us enough to put His own needs in the background in order to better serve others. There was no selfishness about Him, nor any of the “I must meet my needs” philosophy that has seduced and captured so many in our time. Just as He told us to do, He found and fulfilled Himself by losing Himself in service to others. But we must lose ourselves for His sake—not just any cause. There are those carefully masqueraded versions of service to others that are really ego exercises coated with a thin layer of public interest. One sees it all the time, especially when some politicians have some temporary glee as their selfish interests appear to be visibly aligned with the public good; they almost enjoy it too much, suggesting it is not a regular experience.~Neal A. Maxwell, ‘All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience’, Deseret Book, 1979 p.67-70
Continued. . .
