We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
For my first week in this Biblical Hermeneutics course, we’ve been talking about how Old Testament Law relates to us today. When you get down to the nitty gritty of it – while the principles are still important, the actual Law has no bearing on us. This is powerful stuff and causes me to rethink a lot of things.
It is easier for us to follow a set of rules than it is for us to actually be in a relationship. If there are rules, we know our limitations. We also know the limitations that everyone else is to be under.
Do you remember the parable Jesus told about the landowner and his workers? He paid everyone the same amount of money, whether they had begun working at 8 am or at 4 pm. There were rules to be followed and when he didn’t, those who began working at 8 am were furious with him.
We like rules. We like to know when things are fair or unfair. If they seem fair, we move on through our lives with no problem, but the moment things seem unfair, we whine and complain and make a lot of ugly noise.
But, Jesus reminds us that love is the great mediator. No rule holds out against love. If we love someone, we can’t complain if it seems they unfairly get the better deal. We want the best for them … not ourselves.
We are to love everyone. Sometimes that means that we set aside the rules and we set aside our own passions and anger and frustration. Rules are set in place to manage our selfishness and self-centeredness.
So, the greatest commandment really is: Love God with all you heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.
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