Jesus Would Put God & Others First Through Selfless Love
By Bill Blue
What would Jesus say is the “greatest” commandment? Consider what He said:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40).
Jesus and Paul say that these commands fulfill the whole law (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:27; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14). Let’s consider why.
Love “does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5). Love is not self-centered, but always puts God and others first (Matt. 22:37, 39). Jesus and the Apostles criticized those who loved the attention of others (Matt. 6:5, 23:5-7; Mark 12:38-39; Luke 11:43, 20:46-47; see also 3 John 1:9), loved material wealth (Matt. 6:24, 19:16-24; Luke 16:13; 1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:2-5), or otherwise put something or someone else ahead of Him (Matt. 10:37).
Christians are expected to put God first (Matt. 6:33). Jesus says our own lives must take a backseat to the love of God for us to inherit eternal life (John 12:25-26). Even the Ten Commandments direct our attention away from ourselves. The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, and the last six prohibit us from mistreating others (Exodus 20:1-17).
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (Matt. 22:40). Jesus taught the Apostles that, “all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Paul instructed the Romans to become “living sacrifices,” in part by being “kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:1, 10).
Jesus says that whomever we would want to have mercy on us, literally everyone, is our neighbor (Luke 10:29-37; Matt. 7:12). We should even love our enemies and those whom the world discriminates against (Matt. 5:43-46; Luke 6:27-35).
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD. Jesus said that those who love Him, and abide in His love, keep His commandments and those who do not keep His commandments do not love Christ (John 14:15, 21, 23-24; John 15:9-10, 14; 1 John 5:1-3; 2 John 1:5-6). The love of God is perfected in Christians when they keep God’s word (1 John 2:5, 4:12). Love is not sin (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Rom. 12:9), but rather covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). We cannot choose the commands we want to follow and ignore the rest (James 2:8-11). Anyone “who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2:4).
Thus, we cannot love God and hate our brother at the same time (1 John 2:4-11; 1 John 3:14-16; 1 John 4:20-21; Rom. 13:8-10) because He commands us to love one another (1 John 3:10-11, 23; 1 John 4:7-12; John 15:12, 17; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Pet. 3:8). If we love Jesus, we will care for the spiritual needs of our brethren (John 21:15-17) and bear with and forgive one another (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12-13).
Jesus says that love should compel us to be benevolent and do good to everyone (Luke 6:30-35). James says similarly that selfless benevolence is faith in action (James 2:14-20), and “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27). Thus, we cannot obtain love of God by keeping only the letter of the law. We must also fulfill its intent (1 John 3:17-18; Luke 11:42) and spirit (1 Cor. 13:1-3) through our actions (James 2:14-17).
Although we should love our enemies (Matt. 5:43-46) and do good to everyone (Gal. 6:10; Heb. 13:1-3), we are not to conform to the world around us, nor love the sins of this world because this makes us an enemy of God (1 John 2:15; James 4:4; Rom. 12:1-2). The distractions of the world can cause our love to grow cold (Matt. 24:12) and prevent believers from following Christ (John 12:42-43).
GOD LOVES YOU (2 Thess. 2:16; 1 John 3:1). He loves the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10) and is, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and enjoy eternal life (John 3:16). The love of Christ (again keeping His commandments) makes us God’s children (John 8:42), and belief in Christ causes God to love us (John 16:27). “God works for the good of all who love Him,” and nothing can separate obedient believers from the love of God (Rom. 8:28, 31-29).
WE SHOULD FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE IN LOVE. John says that those who claim to abide in Christ should walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). In other words, we should follow His example (Eph. 5:2).
Even when His death was imminent, Jesus was preoccupied with the welfare of others. While hanging on the cross, He forgave those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34), He pardoned a thief dying next to Him (Luke 23:43), and He asked John to take care of His mother (John 19:26-27).
God loved Jesus because Jesus died willing for all humankind (John 10:17). Christ demonstrated His own love for God by obeying God’s will to sacrifice Himself (John 14:31; Eph. 5:2). “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:7-8 NIV; see also Eph. 2:4-5). Paul reminds us that because Christ died for us, His love compels us to live for Him (2 Cor. 5:14-15; Gal. 2:20).
LOVE IS THE PERFECT GIFT. Paul says love is the greatest gift (1 Cor. 12:31, 13:13). True selfless love towards God causes us to obey God’s word. Selfless love towards others demonstrates our love towards God. Thus, love fulfills God’s law (Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14). Keeping God’s commandments causes God to love and reward us (James 1:12, 2:5). “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
By Bill Blue
What would Jesus say is the “greatest” commandment? Consider what He said:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40).
Jesus and Paul say that these commands fulfill the whole law (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:27; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14). Let’s consider why.
Love “does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5). Love is not self-centered, but always puts God and others first (Matt. 22:37, 39). Jesus and the Apostles criticized those who loved the attention of others (Matt. 6:5, 23:5-7; Mark 12:38-39; Luke 11:43, 20:46-47; see also 3 John 1:9), loved material wealth (Matt. 6:24, 19:16-24; Luke 16:13; 1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:2-5), or otherwise put something or someone else ahead of Him (Matt. 10:37).
Christians are expected to put God first (Matt. 6:33). Jesus says our own lives must take a backseat to the love of God for us to inherit eternal life (John 12:25-26). Even the Ten Commandments direct our attention away from ourselves. The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, and the last six prohibit us from mistreating others (Exodus 20:1-17).
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (Matt. 22:40). Jesus taught the Apostles that, “all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Paul instructed the Romans to become “living sacrifices,” in part by being “kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:1, 10).
Jesus says that whomever we would want to have mercy on us, literally everyone, is our neighbor (Luke 10:29-37; Matt. 7:12). We should even love our enemies and those whom the world discriminates against (Matt. 5:43-46; Luke 6:27-35).
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD. Jesus said that those who love Him, and abide in His love, keep His commandments and those who do not keep His commandments do not love Christ (John 14:15, 21, 23-24; John 15:9-10, 14; 1 John 5:1-3; 2 John 1:5-6). The love of God is perfected in Christians when they keep God’s word (1 John 2:5, 4:12). Love is not sin (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Rom. 12:9), but rather covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). We cannot choose the commands we want to follow and ignore the rest (James 2:8-11). Anyone “who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2:4).
Thus, we cannot love God and hate our brother at the same time (1 John 2:4-11; 1 John 3:14-16; 1 John 4:20-21; Rom. 13:8-10) because He commands us to love one another (1 John 3:10-11, 23; 1 John 4:7-12; John 15:12, 17; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Pet. 3:8). If we love Jesus, we will care for the spiritual needs of our brethren (John 21:15-17) and bear with and forgive one another (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12-13).
Jesus says that love should compel us to be benevolent and do good to everyone (Luke 6:30-35). James says similarly that selfless benevolence is faith in action (James 2:14-20), and “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27). Thus, we cannot obtain love of God by keeping only the letter of the law. We must also fulfill its intent (1 John 3:17-18; Luke 11:42) and spirit (1 Cor. 13:1-3) through our actions (James 2:14-17).
Although we should love our enemies (Matt. 5:43-46) and do good to everyone (Gal. 6:10; Heb. 13:1-3), we are not to conform to the world around us, nor love the sins of this world because this makes us an enemy of God (1 John 2:15; James 4:4; Rom. 12:1-2). The distractions of the world can cause our love to grow cold (Matt. 24:12) and prevent believers from following Christ (John 12:42-43).
GOD LOVES YOU (2 Thess. 2:16; 1 John 3:1). He loves the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10) and is, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and enjoy eternal life (John 3:16). The love of Christ (again keeping His commandments) makes us God’s children (John 8:42), and belief in Christ causes God to love us (John 16:27). “God works for the good of all who love Him,” and nothing can separate obedient believers from the love of God (Rom. 8:28, 31-29).
WE SHOULD FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE IN LOVE. John says that those who claim to abide in Christ should walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). In other words, we should follow His example (Eph. 5:2).
Even when His death was imminent, Jesus was preoccupied with the welfare of others. While hanging on the cross, He forgave those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34), He pardoned a thief dying next to Him (Luke 23:43), and He asked John to take care of His mother (John 19:26-27).
God loved Jesus because Jesus died willing for all humankind (John 10:17). Christ demonstrated His own love for God by obeying God’s will to sacrifice Himself (John 14:31; Eph. 5:2). “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:7-8 NIV; see also Eph. 2:4-5). Paul reminds us that because Christ died for us, His love compels us to live for Him (2 Cor. 5:14-15; Gal. 2:20).
LOVE IS THE PERFECT GIFT. Paul says love is the greatest gift (1 Cor. 12:31, 13:13). True selfless love towards God causes us to obey God’s word. Selfless love towards others demonstrates our love towards God. Thus, love fulfills God’s law (Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14). Keeping God’s commandments causes God to love and reward us (James 1:12, 2:5). “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
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