When Jesus spoke to the disciples regarding the first and second greatest commands, he explained that “All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands” (Matt. But why love? What makes it so important? Every thought, response, and act of goodwill must first pass through the fine filter of love, or it means nothing at all. Jesus gave love priority over all other Christian virtues. Love, then, is not a gray area the Scriptures. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt.
13:3).Įven though we have the freedom to set our own priorities, Jesus made a point of defining certain ones of them for us: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. But as the Scripture reminds us, “And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor. For many of us these choices are valid: time with family and friends, work, prayer, serving the poor, fighting for rights, protesting wrongs. “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).
So, how do we make love a dominating characteristic of our lives? Sometimes it’s hard enough to love our own family. Sometimes we sing a chorus in church: “I’m so glad you’re a part of the family of God,” and then we look at the person beside us and sing, “I’m surprised you’re part of the family of God.” Just being real.
Even people at church can be difficult to love. Sounds good, but can we do it? No, not without the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we are to love one another.
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