Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the great commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38)

The first love commandment given to man by God is to love God. Loving God must become our primary assignment. It is not enough for you to know Him as your God, you must love him too.

WHY IS LOVING GOD COMMANDED?

1 To give it its place of primary importance.

2 It is to be learnt and observed consciously.

3 You are being examined daily by God to confirm your love for Him.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

4 It can be disobeyed and abandoned due to pressure and temptation.

5 It has to be given quality and priority pursuit.

6 It is to be cultivated willfully and deliberately.

7 It can be ignored in the pursuit or quest for other things.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).

8 It can be falsely claimed even when it is being faithfully practiced.

“And he saith unto him the third time Simon, son of Jonas, loves t thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me…” (John2l:17).

The person who first loved us is God and therefore deserves our love the most. Anything we give to God, He always blesses and multiplies back to us. Therefore, give God your love so you can enjoy the rewards thereof. The reward of loving God far exceeds any benefit of loving anyone or anything.

“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Friends, before we love anything in life, we are to love God first.