In Mark 12, we read how one of the scribes, who were the teachers of the law, came to Jesus and asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” And we read, “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.'” (Mark 12: 29-31)
These are the two MOST important commandments, and since our main purpose in life as Christians is to obey God and keep His commandments, these MUST be our priority.
If we are to love God will ALL of our heart, and ALL of our soul, and ALL of our mind, and ALL of our strength, that doesn’t leave room for ANYTHING else. God must not only be number ONE, He must be EVERYTHING! The second commandment hinges on the first – we cannot love our neighbor as our self if we don’t love God. These commandments don’t depend on anything else. We are to LOVE God completely and only! And then, we are to love our neighbor (or really everyone), and that IS NOT dependent upon their loving us, being kind to us, or giving us anything at all.
Most of us have strayed too far from these commandments. We may love God, but not with ALL our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. And we love our neighbors, WHEN they are kind to us, and love us in return. However, it doesn’t work that way. These are not just suggestions…they are COMMANDMENTS, and according to Jesus own words, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” How are we doing in our keeping them? It matters!