When asked about the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus’ responded with what could be summed up in one word — LOVE (Matt. 22:36-40). Though only asked what He viewed as the greatest commandment, Jesus broke it down into two commands:
#1 – Love God.
#2 – Love people.
Since Jesus identified these as the greatest commandments, it only makes sense that we consider them as our two-fold purpose in life.
Why a Two-Fold Purpose?
Jesus didn’t stop with the greatest commandment, which is to love God with all of who we are. Why give more than He was asked, especially since the person asking was trying to test Him? Further, the Old Testament verses Jesus quoted don’t mention both commands together.
Perhaps these two commandments tie together so closely that Jesus couldn’t state one without the other. Love for God and love for people have to go hand in hand. Love for people spills out of our love for God. If we love God, we will love people.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 Jn. 4:8)
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 Jn. 4:20-21)
Perhaps Jesus wants us to know that life in Him isn’t an either/or. When we accept Jesus into our life, we’re placed into the Body of Christ. We first and foremost love Him but we also love one another.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (Jn. 15:12)
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 Jn. 3:23)
Steering the Church Toward God’s Priorities as Given in the Greatest Commandments
If Jesus identified both love for God and love for people as top priorities, certainly as a Church we should be helping people live out these purposes. Church leaders have a major role in keeping the church on track in this two-fold purpose. You’ll find the above content in the Steering the Church Toward God’s Purposes Leadership Guide which also considers some implications of this truth for our church bodies and leaders.
For even more help steering the Church in this direction, go to: Church Purpose Resources