He judges our actions and thoughts using two criteria - toward others - and toward God!
Most of us get the first part. Anyone with the slightest inclination toward God is aware that God will deal with us according to how we treat others.
Yet Jesus expressed an amazing truth that seems to have been lost on modern man:
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'"
Matthew 22:37-39 (emphasis added)
Notice that the first and great commandment is to LOVE GOD!
The second is to love your neighbor!
This truth has huge implications in the world today. Even atheists embrace the golden rule and applaud good works toward our fellow man.
Yet GOD demands that we must love Him first, last and above ALL!
Jesus did not command us to, "Be religious" or "Repeat many prayers." He commanded us to LOVE GOD! "Which God?" one might ask. "After all, there are many "gods" and many religions in the world." Many would have us to believe that God will be pleased by our worship of any "god" we choose - as long as we worship some "god." But this is as far as possible from the truth. We are only to worship the one true God - not choose a god from many choices!
Is this not, in fact, the first of the ten commandments?
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me."
Exodus 20:2-3
Would our spouses be pleased if we took this approach? Can you imagine a husband being thrilled that his wife was giving her love to another man? Or sleeping with another man? Or a husband telling his wife, "I don't really care which man you love or cherish as long as it's some man?"
Of course not - and neither is God pleased when we worship any other God but Him!
God's Judgment
God judges by these two criteria - the SPIRITUAL and the SOCIAL! We are keenly aware of the social aspect of God's judgements - but seem blinded to the spiritual aspect! FIRST - we are to love God! Second - love our neighbor! Reversing them has caused a world of trouble!
Here's why...
1. When we put people first, we are only capable of love according to our own personal concepts of love!
- It is in first loving God that we learn to love the way God loves.
2. When we put God before people, we do them the most good!
- God designed the world to work as He planned.
- We cannot possibly love others more by rejecting God's design or prioritizing people above God!
3. Social needs are temporary!
- Of course, we should meet the social needs of those around us, whenever possible.
- Yet it is possible to meet the social needs of a person while leaving that person spiritually empty!
4. Man is eternal!
- Man's greatest need is to be in right relationship with God!
- Failing to meet spiritual needs has eternal consequences!
- If we are not first full of God and His Holy Spirit - how will we meet the spiritual needs of the world?
All of the unity in the world, strength of community and social programs cannot meet the deepest needs of man!
These can only be met by God Himself! And we will never be equipped to impart the way to God unless we first love God above man!
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