The Bible teaches us that there are many important aspects to life, but what does it say is the most important? After studying key passages, I believe the most important thing in life according to the Bible is to love God and love others.
Introduction
As Christians, we want to live in a way that aligns with God’s word and will. We know that the Bible provides timeless guidance for how to live our lives in a way that honors God and reflects His values. But with its many teachings, what would the Bible say is the most essential thing for us to focus on?
After examining numerous verses, I believe the overarching message is that we are called to place our relationship with God first and foremost. Loving God wholeheartedly is repeatedly emphasized as the greatest commandment. Out of our love for God, we are then compelled to love and serve others selflessly. This twofold command to love God and love our neighbor shapes how we live out our faith.
In this post, we’ll explore what the Bible says about the supremacy of loving God and others. We’ll look at how this twofold commandment is described as the fulfillment of the law and prophets, the test of true faith, the mark of a Christ follower, and the roadmap for how to live. Key takeaways include:
- Loving God is presented as the greatest commandment that all other commands and duties hinge upon
- Loving others selflessly is emphasized as the second greatest commandment
- Love fulfills the intent behind all of God’s laws and instructions
- Our love for God and others evidences genuine faith and devotion
- Christ Himself modeled perfect love for God and others
- Living out love shapes the way we treat others and live out our faith
When we make loving God and loving people the main focus in life, it changes everything. This foundational biblical principle can transform how we view God, ourselves, and the world around us. As we strive to walk in love, it impacts how we worship, work, serve, give, fellowship and conduct ourselves in our families and communities. My hope is that this overview will provide a useful reference on the supremacy of love according to the Bible.
The Greatest Commandment
In the Gospels, Jesus Himself declared the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). He said this was the first and greatest commandment. When asked which is the second, Jesus replied, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
This twofold command to love God and love others summarizes the intent behind all of God’s laws and instructions throughout Scripture.
In the Old Testament, Moses instructed the Israelites: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). This sincere, wholehearted love for God was to shape their entire lives and devotion.
Likewise, Leviticus 19:18 instructed: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving others was integral to living according to God’s righteous standards.
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus brought these two Old Testament commands together. He explained that all of the law and prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:40). They encompass the core of what God expects from us.
Paul also emphasized loving God and others as central to living in a way that pleases God:
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10)
The call to love God wholeheartedly and love others selflessly summarizes what God desires most from us. This twofold commandment shapes our entire approach to living out our faith. It provides the relational framework for how we are to live in connection with God and others.
The Test of Faith
In addition to being the greatest commandment, our love for God and others serves as a litmus test of genuine faith and devotion. Scripture ties our love for God closely with obeying His commands and doing what pleases Him:
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)
“Jesus replied: ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.'” (John 14:23-24)
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3)
These verses tie our love for God to obeying His Word and keeping His commands. This makes sense – when we truly love someone, we want to please them by showing care for what they value. The Bible presents our obedience to God’s instructions as evidence of our love for Him.
In a similar way, our love for others serves as evidence of God’s love and transformation in our lives:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
The Bible ties our love for others closely with God’s love at work within us. As believers, God’s Spirit lives within us and empowers us to exemplify Christ-like love. Our selfless, sacrificial love for others gives evidence of God’s presence and work in our lives. It shows that His love has authentically transformed our hearts.
Throughout Scripture, our love for God and others is presented as inseparable from genuine devotion and spiritual life. It serves as a barometer of our relationship with God and His influence in how we live. When we walk in love, it reflects the reality of God’s presence and values shaping us from the inside out.
Christ as Our Model of Love
In calling us to love God and love others, Christ modeled this perfectly for us to follow. He exemplified profound love for the Father and unrelenting love for people:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Jesus’ entire life and ministry revolved around manifesting the Father’s love and laying down His life out of love for humanity. His unwavering love led Him to the cross to sacrificially bear the punishment for our sins.
As Christ followers, we are called to walk as Jesus did by demonstrating selfless love:
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
Jesus perfectly fulfilled the greatest commandments through his undivided love for the Father and self-giving love for people. We are to follow Christ’s example by living out love for God and others in how we live our lives.
The way Jesus loved reveals what wholehearted love for God looks like lived out. And His laying down His life models the extent we are called to love and serve others. When we walk as Jesus did, we reflect His character of perfect love.
Love as Our Roadmap
The more we examine Scripture, the more we see God’s love and Christ’s example of love presented as the roadmap for how to live out our faith. Consider these key verses on what it means to live out love:
“Let love be your highest goal!” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Scripture consistently elevates love as the defining mark of following Christ. We are to live out unwavering love for God and selfless love for others. This love then shapes everything about how we live and relate with God and others.
As the Bible notes, love should be our “highest goal” and “over all these virtues.” When we follow Christ’s example of love, it transforms all aspects of life from our worship and service to our work and relationships. Biblical love is not just a feeling but an intentional way of living that translates Christ’s love into action.
Key Takeaways on the Importance of Love
To recap, here are some key truths on why I believe the Bible presents loving God and loving others as the most important thing in life:
- Loving God wholeheartedly is repeatedly commanded as the greatest calling for God’s people
- Loving others selflessly is emphasized as the second greatest commandment
- These two commands fulfill the intent behind all of God’s laws and instructions
- Our love for God and others serves as evidence of genuine faith and devotion
- Jesus perfectly modeled unwavering love for the Father and sacrificial love for people
- We are to follow Christ’s example by walking in love
- Biblical love fundamentally shapes how we live out our faith and treat others
When our lives are rooted in loving God and loving people, it changes everything. All of our pursuits and interactions become shaped by this Christ-centered love. It shifts our perspective to align with God’s values and gives us a blueprint for living in a way that honors Him.
The Bible makes clear that nothing is more fundamental than sincerely loving God and living out His love. May this twofold command compel us towards deeper relationship with God and greater love for the people around us.
Conclusion
In summary, the most important thing in life according to the Bible is to love God with our whole being and to love others as ourselves. This shapes our relationship with God, our interactions with others, and how we live out our faith day to day. When we walk in love, we reflect the heart of God and example of Christ.
My prayer is that this overview on the supremacy of love provides a helpful reference. May it inspire us to make loving God and loving people the priority in how we live each day. As Scripture teaches, the greatest calling we have is to live out unwavering love for our Creator and selfless love for one another.
