What is the primary purpose of every Christian? To save souls? Disciple new believers? Plant churches? Feed the poor? Promote sound doctrine? What's our main purpose? Another relevant question is: What is the meaning of life?

This same question was presented to Jesus by a religious leader who asked, "Which is the first commandment of all?" (Mark 12:28, NKJV). In other words, "What's most important?"

Jesus answered, "The first of all the commandments is…love the Lord your God with all your heart…all your soul…all your mind and…all your strength…and the second…is this…love your neighbor as yourself…" (Mark 12:29-31, NKJV)

Of all the good things in our lives, that we are encouraged and even obligated or obliged to do, these two commandments are most important.

However, we would do well to understand three things related to this passage:

1. These two commandments are commands, not suggestions. Another term for command is "direct order." Those who are truly committed to Christ are and always will be more than delighted to obey this order, not out of fear of the consequences for disobedience (1 Corinthians 16:22), but rather out of a pure and simple devotion to Him. Jesus, Who is the pattern for all believers, lived to obey His Father because He loved Him more than anything. If we love Christ and want to be His friend, we will follow Him by following His example (John14:15, 23; 15:14).

2. These two commands are in a certain, deliberate order, set by Jesus. In Revelation 2:4 (NKJV), Jesus says, "I have this against you, that you have left your first love." This is no less true for us, today. In many ways, the second commandment has become first in our lives, along with a personal love for material things. But the truth is, we will only love people to the degree that we love God first. As the old saying goes, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." The main thing is to love God.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the second commandment is very important, but please, let's keep first things first. If we don't keep the first commandment in first place, by loving Christ more than anything, we will not be able to love people the way we should and ultimately can. The apostle John understood this for he said, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments" (1 John 5:2, NKJV). This is the acid test.

3. Of the two commands, the first one is the only one we are told to follow with "all" our heart, soul, mind and strength. Understand, it is simply not enough to love God; we must love Him with "all" that we are, inside and out. Jesus didn't say, "Love your neighbor and give the Lord whatever is left;" nor did He say, "Love the Lord with the majority of your heart, soul, mind and strength and give the rest to your neighbor." No, He said, "Love the Lord with all…"

Like Paul the apostle, I am afraid that we have, in many ways, been inadvertently lured away from the simplicity of devotion to Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 11:3). Many "good" and praiseworthy things within our lives–that fit within the category of "the second commandment"–have led us away from what was once a pure, wholehearted, all-consuming relationship with Christ. But, as one man said, "Good is the worst enemy of best." This is especially true for those whose priorities are not right before Christ, Who Himself said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…" (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

My friends, let's face it - we've "left our first love." And yet, the Lord, in His mercy, has not "left" us. His remedy for restoration is crystal-clear: "Remember…from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent." (Revelation 2:5, NKJV).

NKJV – New King James Version

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