Bible's First Commandment: Love God First
The Bible's first commandment is fundamental to our relationship with God and our ability to love others. This commandment is found in Deuteronomy 6:5: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
Significance of the Order
The order of the commandments is crucial. By loving God first, we recognize Him as the ultimate source of pure and perfect love. This focus enables us to access His divine love, which empowers us to respect, serve, and love others.
Altruistic Love
The commandment to love our neighbors is not diminished by its second place; rather, it is enhanced by our love for God. When we anchor our love in divine purpose, we amplify our ability to love others more fully and perfectly.
Christ's Example
Christ's life exemplifies how to love God and serve others. He demonstrated unwavering loyalty to God, a keen sense of accountability to Him, and a deep desire to know and fulfill His will. These principles should guide our decision-making.
Practical Applications
Elder D. Todd Christofferson provides practical ways to put the first commandment first:
- Keep God's Commandments: Obedience demonstrates respect, trust, and love for God. We should strive to follow His commandments with exactness and honor.
- Feed the Lord's Sheep: Like Peter, show our love for God by providing temporal and spiritual nourishment to others through acts of kindness and missionary work.
- Feast Upon God's Words: Love for God inspires us to seek constant communication with Him through prayer and scripture study, which facilitate spiritual revelation.
- Be Accountable to God: Accountability to God should not be burdensome. Rather, it acknowledges our loving Father's desire for our fulfillment and joy. He knows the path to eternal happiness and provides us with opportunities to grow and progress.
By loving God first, we magnify our love for others. This love is selfless, empowering, and enduring, enabling us to fulfill the Great Commandment of loving both God and our neighbors.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bible First Commandment
What is the first commandment?
Answer: The first commandment enjoins us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37).
Why is love for God emphasized as the first commandment?
Answer: By loving God first, we acknowledge Him as the supreme source of love and access His divine love, empowering us to love others more fully (Elder D. Todd Christofferson).
How does loving God strengthen our love for others?
Answer: When we anchor our love in God's purpose, our ability to love others becomes more profound and unwavering (Elder D. Todd Christofferson).
What are practical ways to prioritize the first commandment?
Answer: Practical applications include keeping God's commandments, providing service to others, engaging in prayer and scripture study, and recognizing our accountability to Him (Elder D. Todd Christofferson).
How did Christ exemplify loving God and others?
Answer: Christ demonstrated unwavering loyalty to God, a deep desire to fulfill His will, and a commitment to loving and serving others, guiding our decision-making (Elder D. Todd Christofferson).