(I recorded 5 “Minute Meditations” that are airing on KTRF Radio this week. I will be posting the transcripts this week.)
One day an expert in religion tried to trap Jesus by asking him, “Which is the most important commandment?”
In other words: “Which rule is more important, Jesus? Not stealing or not lying? Not murdering or not sleeping around?
This expert wanted an intellectual answer to an emotional question: When faced with a dilemma like, “Do I steal so I don’t have to lie, or should I lie so I don’t have to steal?” Which should I do, Jesus?
The religious pro wasn’t expecting Jesus’ answer: “Actually, there are two greatest commandments,” he said. “Love God with everything you are and love people with everything you’ve got.”
You see, love is more important than anything, even obeying the rules. Why? Because all of God’s rules are based on love. If you always do the most-loving thing then you will always do the right thing.
I’ve always found it interesting how the law expert asked for one commandment, yet Jesus gave him two. Yours is a really good understanding. Another on that I thought of was that Jesus actually saw loving God and loving people as one commandment. Our love for God is shown is our love for people and vice versa.
Love is a verb. To take the term beyond simple artifice, one must practice love–in giving, doing, making, serving. Otherwise love is just another fancy religious word.