God’s laws provide guidance on how to live a righteous life. Though there are many commandments and instructions in scripture, three laws stand out as foundational. These three laws encapsulate God’s expectations for humanity. By following these laws, we can grow in our relationship with God and with one another.
The Greatest Commandment
The first and greatest law is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This commandment comes from Deuteronomy 6:5 which says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus also emphasized the primacy of this law in Matthew 22:37-38 stating, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
What does it mean to love God? Loving God starts with having a personal relationship with Him. As we seek to know His character through scripture, spend time communicating with Him in prayer, and live in obedience to His word, our love and connection with God will grow. Loving God also means loving what He loves. God loves people, so we must love others as well. When we love God, we will desire to please Him with our thoughts, words, and actions.
Key Points
- The greatest law is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
- Loving God starts with having a personal relationship with Him.
- Loving God includes loving what He loves, such as other people.
- Loving God impacts every area of our lives.
Love Your Neighbor
The second foundational law is to love your neighbor as yourself. This command comes from Leviticus 19:18 which instructs, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In the New Testament, Jesus repeats this command in Matthew 22:39 stating, “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Who is our neighbor? Jesus made it clear in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor is anyone in need. Regardless of race, religion, or social status, we are called to exhibit compassion and care for those around us. Practically, this law instructs us to treat others with the same honor, dignity, and grace that we desire for ourselves. It calls us to look out for the needs of others and to value people as God values them.
Key Points
- The second law is to love your neighbor as yourself.
- Our neighbor is anyone in need.
- We must treat others as we want to be treated.
- This law calls us to meet the needs of those around us.
The Golden Rule
The third foundational law of God is the Golden Rule. Jesus teaches this principle in Matthew 7:12 saying, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” The Golden Rule calls us to actively treat others the way we want to be treated.
The key difference between the second and third laws is that the command to love your neighbor as yourself is more passive, focused on attitudes and treatment. The Golden Rule takes it a step further, calling us to actively meet the needs and interests of those around us. It moves from avoiding harm to seeking the good of others in tangible ways.
Key Points
- The Golden Rule says to do to others what you want done to you.
- It calls us to actively meet the needs and interests of others.
- The Golden Rule takes the second law a step further in action.
- It moves from avoiding harm to seeking the good of people.
Applying God’s Laws
Though simple in concept, these three fundamental laws have profound daily applications. Here are some ways we can apply them:
- Put God first each day through prayer, scripture reading and obedience.
- Treat all people with value, honor, dignity and respect.
- Speak kindly and avoid gossip or slander.
- Serve those in need through volunteering or donating.
- Share possessions and food with those who lack.
- Forgive others freely.
- Restrain anger and settle disputes peacefully.
- Work diligently at your responsibilities.
- Encourage others and build them up.
- Be generous with your time, attention and abilities.
When we live by these three laws, we can enjoy deep fellowship with God, healthy relationships with others, and meaning and purpose in life. Though we will never perfectly follow these principles, the Holy Spirit enables us to grow continually in expressing God’s unconditional love.
Challenges in Following God’s Laws
While God’s laws are designed for our good, living them out faces many challenges including:
Self-Centeredness
Our natural bent is toward self. Putting God first and serving others selflessly goes against our ingrained selfish desires. Dying to self-interest to follow God’s higher ways requires determined commitment.
Busyness
Our fast-paced, busy world makes it easy to crowd out time with God and service to others. Setting priorities and boundaries are key to having margin to fulfill God’s laws.
Inconvenience
Serving and sacrificing for others is often inconvenient and disruptive. But resisting the tendency to take the easy road is necessary to live out God’s laws.
Differing Values
The self-first mentality of culture conflicts sharply with God’s call to humility and service. Navigating these competing value systems requires wisdom and discernment.
Opposition
Living by God’s laws, especially radical love and forgiveness, will provoke criticism and opposition. We must be willing to take hard stands for godly values.
By clinging to God’s strength, direction and discernment, we can overcome these challenges to integrate His laws into our daily lives. As we do, we will grow in godliness and make a lasting impact on others.
Biblical Examples
Throughout scripture we see compelling examples of those who followed God’s laws:
Mary and Martha
When Jesus was welcomed into their home, Mary sat attentively at Jesus’ feet while Martha busied herself with housework. When Martha complained, Jesus commended Mary for choosing “the good portion” by putting relationship with God first (Luke 10:38-42).
Good Samaritan
When a robbed and beaten man was ignored by religious elite, a Samaritan stranger showed him great compassion and sacrificed time and money to care for the man’s wounds and provide for his recovery (Luke 10:25-37).
Stephen
Stephen loved and forgave his persecutors while being stoned to death, praying “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:54-60). His grace reflected God’s greater grace to all.
These and many other biblical examples inspire us to integrate God’s laws into our daily lives. They reflect the freedom, blessing and power that result when we make loving God and others our highest aim.
Conclusion
The three great commandments to love God, love your neighbor, and practice the Golden Rule synthesize all of God’s other instructions in the Bible. When we follow these overarching laws, treating God and others with wholehearted love and honor, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created. While living out these laws is challenging in a self-centered world, God gives abundant grace, strength and wisdom for the task. As we make loving God and people our life’s mission, we experience the unmatched blessing, joy and fulfillment that comes from pursuing God’s greatest priorities.