Ethical Consumers

Jesus told us that the second most important law, which summed up all of God's commandments, was that we should love our neighbour as ourself. Loving our neighbour as ourselves means that we want the best for them.

This suggests to me that we should also consider how we can nourish and tenderly care for our neighbour, whether it is befriending the people who live next door, or the person who lives alone in our street, or giving to aid and development charities to help feed those who are hungry thousands of miles away from us.

Do we know are neighbours? If so is that because we haven't tried to get to know them or because our neighbours don't seem to want to know us? Have we tried to get to know them? Do we have time to visit lonely neighbours we know appreciate our company?

Loving our neighbour as ourselves means we are as angry when are he or she is treated unjustly as when we are, if not more so. It means we do whatever we are able to alleviate our neighbour's suffering. There are some suggestions of how we might do this in the section on justice.

When advising the people in Ephesus how to behave towards each other Paul wrote,

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians Chapter 5, Verses 1&2)

Paul continues,

"Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21)

This suggests to me that Paul is encouraging the members of the church at Ephesus to live in a way that shows mutual consideration and respect for each other, an excellent pattern for living, if only we can stop our selfish nature from getting in the way.

"In the Bible it is written that what God gave us is for us all. I often think how beautiful it would be if everyone understood this."

(Honduras from 'A Generous Land; Words and pictures for prayers and reflection from Latin America and the Caribbean'. Published in1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Trocaire.)

At home

Starting at home we could consider the way we treat our parents, spouses and children.

St Paul sets out an ideal for husbands and wives to aime for when he says,,

"In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, ..." (Ephesians 5:28-30)

Out and about

Do you show love for your fellow drivers by being a courteous and considerate driver? Do you show love for pedestrians, and the child who might run in front of you in a built up area, by sticking to the speed limit? If someone steps out in front of you, you are less likely to kill them or seriously injure them at 30mph than if you are driving at 35 mph or faster.

When was the last time you smiled at someone we passed in the street? Do you take time to listen when people respond to you asking, "how are you?", or do you grunt and hurry on by?