Part 1 of this series, All Your Heart, revealed the inner order of living life from one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Part 2 of this series, The God, Self, Others Relationship, introduced the order and flow of this three-party relationship.
“The Greatest Commandment” is the most complete handbook ever given for our wellbeing and love of life. Unfortunately, in our modern ears we hear the word “Commandment” as a strict rule that must be followed. Taken as legalism instead of loving, we miss the intention or spirit for why it was decreed in the first place.
The Greatest Commandment is given for our benefit, period. It’s the same principle as when a parent tells a young child not to touch a hot stove. It sounds like a rule, but it is given out of love and protection for the welfare of the child.
You’ve likely heard “Life doesn’t come with a manual.” Actually, it does, and The Greatest Commandment is the condensed version. “There is no commandment greater than these [two sentences]” is a big clue! Imagine compressing the entire Old Testament with all its law, lessons, and stories into two sentences. There is your handbook for life.
Admittedly, the God-Self-Others algorithm of loving is a difficult standard. Human dynamics are forever ebbing and flowing in a swirl of emotions, circumstances, pressures, and learning. Ironically, the more we know, the more we realize what we don’t know. The net effect is we’re caught in what appears to be an unresolvable cycle fraught with failure to perform followed by disappointment or even depression.
The paradox of The Greatest Commandment is that it is both convicting and freeing. We’re not left hanging in the legalities of the law. Rather, we’re shown the path forward toward wholeness through loving God, Self, and Others in that order (see Part 2).
If renaming The Greatest Commandment as “The Greatest Life Hack” will get you to apply it, so be it. Learning to love your way to calm and peace despite trials and troubles is worth it. Your 2-word purpose affords you the added advantage of knowing how best you identify with God, align internally, and externally integrate the God-Self-Others relationship. You’re equipped to succeed!
You own the prescription. Will you remain mired in the depths of your despair by discounting this therapy because of bias toward a theological wrapper of your own legalism? Or will you start loving God, step one in this three-step program of recovery for living well? The choice is yours.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
