When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?”
Jesus answered with two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And the
second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets” (emphasis mine). Andy Stanley made an
interesting comment. Andy Stanley said
that the phrase “the second is like it” is not hierarchical, that is, the
second is less important than the first.
But rather, complementary, the second completes the first, or is on the
same level as the first. I had never
thought of that. I now realize I can’t love God if I
don’t love my neighbor. And, I can’t love my neighbor if I don’t love God. Now what Jesus said makes sense: that if I am approaching God and remember my neighbor has a problem with me, I am to first get right with my neighbor (as far as it depends on me) and then spend time with God. Because if I choose not to love my neighbor I am also choosing not to love God. (And remember, "love" means actively pursuing the highest good for my neighbor, not necessarily doing whatever they ask).
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