Francis Quarles: Neglect, Profess, and Nourish

Home » Meditations » Meditations » Francis Quarles: Neglect, Profess, and Nourish

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:31

“If thou neglectest thy love to thy neighbor, in vain thou professest thy love to God; for by thy love to God, the love to thy neighbor is begotten, and by the love to thy neighbor, thy love to God is nourished.’

Francis Quarles in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 47.

Three words struck me in this statement by Quarles: neglect, profess, and nourish.

‘Neglect’ is what we tend to do toward our neighbor because we are too busy or self-centered. I am guilty of that, especially in busy times (like right now). But we can’t do that if we ‘profess’ to be followers of Jesus.

Today is the Block Party at church. We are nurturing community with those who live nearby. When we show love of neighbor, we nourish our love relationship with God. In this doing, God lifts us all up.

Don’t neglect, but do what you profess, and find that it will nourish you! This post also reminds me, it’s time to study God’s Word together and play dominos with my neighbor in the development where I live.