The Greatest Rule

There are tons of rules. Some of them we (for the most part) observe.

Generally, when we walk into someone else’s home, we remove our footwear.

We follow the rules of the road. In most cases. But you are not yet dead, so you chances are pretty good that you did not cross the centre line— whatever colour it might or might not be— and you kept your car in “your” lane. 

For the most part, we generally follow the posted speed limits. they are posted to keep us safe.

We follow our dentist’s advice and brush, floss. Ok, maybe that one is a stretch. 

For the most part we play by the rules that have been set in place to keep us safe. In my house, keeping the toilet seat down has kept me safe for years, but I digress…

One day some Religious people came to Jesus to “ask” him a question. This was not the real reason they went to Jesus, they went to try to trick him; but the fact of the matter is they still went to Jesus, which is always a good idea. 

The religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

(Matthew 22:36, NIV)

Now, talk about a loaded question. According to tradition, there were hundreds of Laws that people in that day were supposed to abide by. Hundreds. At the same time. You were very fortunate if you made it throughout the day if you didn’t break one. Or five. To make matters even more interesting, some of the real religious big-shots sat around and shared their opinion as to what the greatest commandment— rule— was. I can imagine these became yelling sessions; only because I yell at my TV when a rule is presented that I don’t like, but again, I digress. 

Wether Jesus thought very long about the answer to this question or not, we are not told, but we are told that the greatest commandment in all of the world— then and today— is this: “Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)

FULL STOP. 

Read that again. Go for it. 

Jesus summed up the entire Old Testament and all of the “other made up rules” and told everyone everywhere, that the greatest thing you and I can ever— will ever— do, is to Love God and love People. 

Come again Jesus? 

You read it right. The best way that we can live our lives is by Loving God and Loving People. 

If we get those two things right, we’ve done right. But the (sad) fact is that we only get one of these right, and then maybe not. 

Someone once said: “Earlier in this century someone claimed that we work at our play and play at our work. Today the confusion has deepened: we worship our work, work at our play, and play in our worship.” (To find out who said that, click here.)

If only we had a true desire for God and for the things of God. If only we had would/could love our neighbour as ourself. Is it hard? Absolutely. there are days when I do not like myself, let alone love myself. This is where God comes in to the whole equation.

We have Almighty God on our side all we have to do is cry out to Him for help. We can and probably should pray each day like this: “Lord, I have no idea who you are going to put in my path today, but help me to love them as you love them.” 

I’m convinced if we did this, if we Loved God and Loved people, less people would be dead and more people would be in church. 

Who do you need to love today? That dude at work that no one talks to? That sister at school who sits alone? 

God? 

Of all the rules and regulations we have in our world today; we must Love God with all that we have and love people as we love ourselves. 

May God help us all