Get The Fundamentals Right – Love God, Love People
LENT 2024 | DAY 31
Mark 12:18-44 (NIV)
(Liu Yueh Mei, Chairperson, Information Systems Committee)
When I first knew God, I loved God because I was touched by His immense love for me. Over time, this love deepens when I continue to spend time with Him. There are also times when this love lessens as I get complacent or busy.
What is God’s desire for us?
Of all the commandments, the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). Then Jesus says, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (verse 31).
Everything else follows after these two commandments. If we get them right, we will have fewer struggles with God and with men, fewer struggles about what to do or not to do, what to give, how to give, how much to give, etc.
From this one commandment, we are asked to love God in 4 dimensions:
– with all our heart (recall that feeling when you fell in love with someone, the longing to talk and listen to, to know everything about that person)
– with all our soul (recall the relationship with a soulmate or confidante, sharing your most intimate thoughts, concerns, burdens)
– with all your mind (love cognitively, with a clear mind)
– with all our strength (love that translates into action, that is not passive; recall all the things you do for your loved ones)
This one greatest commandment is definitely not trivial – it requires all of our being, to love from the inside out. If we love God to this extent, everything else will fall into place.
Then God asks us to extend this love to our neighbour, our fellow humans, sinners just like us.
One act of love is giving (Mark 12:41-44). A poor widow gave two copper coins out of her poverty as opposed to the rich ones who gave large amounts. It is easier to give out of riches but what about giving out of poverty? The concept of time poverty struck me. Have I given my prime time to God? Time to serve God, time to be with God? Giving out of poverty requires immense love for God before we are willing to sacrifice our time, money or other resources.
Oftentimes, be it family or work, if we get the fundamental principle right, it sets the path forward in the right direction. And the fundamental lies in whom we love as well as the extent of our love.
DISCUSSION POINTERS:
1. Have you loved God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength?
2. Think of a ‘neighbour’ to show love to.
3. How in your poverty would you like to give more to God, to show your love to Him?
