The Greatest Commandment - Mark 12:28-34

What is our greatest responsibility? We certainly have important responsibilities like caring for our kids, fulfilling our duties at work, and maintaining healthy relationships. As believers, we would likely say obeying God is greater than any other responsibility. We surely need to obey God. Still, we have another responsibility that serves as a prerequisite to obeying God.

In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus identifies the greatest commandment. He says, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Second to loving God, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” All of God’s commands, including the second greatest commandment, require us to first love God. Loving God, then, is our greatest responsibility.

Our love for God should permeate everything we think, do, say, and feel. It’s not enough for us to love God partially, we must love Him totally. God must be our greatest desire and affection. Nothing else is deserving of our love. Yes, it is our duty to love God, but loving Him also produces the most incredible measure of delight.

How are you loving God? Just about all of us would acknowledge that we could love God better. But how do you grow in our love for Him? You certainly cannot grow in our love for Him by isolating yourself from Him. Our love for God grows as we draw near to Him. As we draw near to Him, He exposes competing loves in our hearts and shows us that He is so much better. We should love God because that is our greatest responsibility. We should also love Him because there is nothing better than Him to love.

Resources:

Reflection Questions:

  • Why should we love God above everything else?

  • How are you drawing near to God?

  • How can you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Delight in the WordAustin SegarMark