Greatest of These....

July 21, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.

Many people believe Christianity comes with a laundry list of “do’s” and “don’ts”. In many ways, it does, but the harder lessons come when people believe the list contradicts itself. Should you “turn the other check” or repay “an eye for an eye”? Lying is wrong, but is it okay if you lie to protect someone for the right reason? Should you not “drink” or is it okay to “drink” but don’t get “drunk”? With a true understanding of God we realize that it is not the laundry list that counts, it is why we are following the list at all.

Anyone can read the Bible and find scriptures to back up their position, but we have to remember God created the entire book from the beginning of time to the end. The Ten Commandments came early on, and that is one of the first stories we learn. Learning that, people say to themselves, “Ah, here is the laundry list, I knew there was a catch”, believing the catch is if they break a rule God will come down on them with fire and brimstone. At this point, they either run away or obey the rules out of fear.

We must remember why we are obeying the rules. To understand this, remember that people come with a fear of doing something incorrectly. When we have an obligation to fulfill or a task to complete, we seek clarification of the instructions.

Our attempt to clarify our obligations has resulted in our obsession with “and / or”. Legalities over Presidents possible impeachment hinged on the words “high crimes and misdemeanors”. Marriage vows hinge on “for better or worse”. We often focus on the word in the middle. If it is “and” it is both, and if it is “or” then it is one or the other or both. We become overwhelmed at the thought of “or” meaning to do both things, and we convince ourselves that is too much to do so we only need to do one or the other.

Thus, we put in an “or” and choose whether or not to obey rules out of “fear” or “God”. To reconcile the difference remember that God does not bring on the Spirit of Fear. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT). Whichever you follow depends on your relationship with God.

Some people are trained early on to obey rules out of fear. They walk in line, scared to death what will happen if they fall. If they fall they believe that God will come down with wrath and fire.

Some people are trained early on to obey rules out of love for God. They walk in line, but know if they fall, that God sent His Son to die for their slip, and they are forgiven. They show the willingness to get back on that line because they understand His mercy and forgiveness, and want to show Him their respect.

Those two people may appear the same, as Christians following the rules. But we have to remember that one of them is obeying the rules out of fear because man told them to. The other is obeying the rules out of love for God, to show Him their respect.

Think of your children. Do you want them to obey your instructions out of fear of what you will do, or would you rather them do the right thing because of all you have done for them? One is a reaction out of fear, the other is an automatic action out of respect.

God told us early in the Bible He is looking at the “why” instead of the “what”. “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7. Think of the stories where liars lied to protect someone out of pure motives, or why God would call some killings “unintentional”.

To illustrate, remember many people in the Old Testament, before Jesus, were working to obey those rules, memorized them, and could recite them. God saw many people working to show others in the Temple how much they knew about His law. What did He say? “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 (NLT).

God is looking at the “why” in each action we take, and this is not a “free-for-all” to do what we want. To put it in perspective, think of the Christians you know, who know the Bible back and forth, and show up to church every Sunday and sacrifice their money to the church. What you see is the “what”, don’t assume you know the “why”.

Later on in the New Testament, Jesus clarified it for us. He told us the two greatest of the commandments, the first is to love God, and then love others as ourselves. Now remember the rest of them. For example, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not murder, and the rest. Jesus is not telling you to forget those commandments. Instead, He tells you to look at the two commandments he said were the greatest and tells you, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." What that means is the others are still in effect, but they are a “what” you are doing. The “why” you are obeying them or not obeying them should be because of the two greatest ones: out of love for God and each other.

God’s grace allowed His Son to die for our sins, so that when we have faith in Him we are forgiven. God knew that people concentrating on the rules and law alone would fall into sin because they would forget the “why” that matters. “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14.

As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives within us individually. He convicts and guides us on God’s law. The problem is when we look at the law more than we listen to the Spirit.

When you listen to the Spirit, you realize the rules do not contradict themselves at all. In fact, the rest of the rules make more sense. For example, unless you know the “why” someone is doing what they are doing, do not judge the “what”. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2. If you do, chances are based on God’s word, you will end up doing the “what” yourself with someone else judging your “why”.

Men can concentrate on the “what” all they want, but as long as the “why” is for God and in line with His words, then we are assured we are in line with what He wants.

Jesus said it best, in so many words:

The greatest of these is not law, it is love.