Holiness isn’t limited to our relationship with God. Holiness includes our relationship with others. Believing that holiness is only about loving God, and not about loving our neighbors is faulty thinking. Too little is said about God’s people loving each other. Often the love of God gets all of the attention and little emphasis is given on how we should treat each other.
Leviticus 19 gives certain laws concerning how Israel was to treat each other, the poor, servants, and strangers. The poor wasn’t to be taken advantage of (Lev. 19:9-10). Stealing and cheating each other was prohibited (Lev. 19:11-14; 35-36). Injustice, lying and gossip was not allowed (Lev. 19:15-16). Hating someone and taking vengeance was off-limits (Lev. 19:17-18). Strangers were to be loved and cared for within the land of Israel (Lev. 19:33-34). If Israel was going to be a holy nation, it was going to be displayed in how they loved and treated each other. These principles could be summed like this: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:16b).
Jesus quoted this very verse in the New Testament, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mk. 12:31). Jesus also said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn. 13:34-35).
Holiness goes beyond our love for God. Holiness also affects our love for one another. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 Jn. 4:7-8).
Taking care of the poor in your community is holiness. Treating your employees with dignity is holiness. Telling the truth and avoiding gossip is holiness. Being kind to your waitress in the restaurant is holiness. Paying your bills on time is holiness. Loving those who despitefully use you is holiness.
Beloved, let holiness be exemplified in our love for God, and in our love for one another.