Life Is a Lesson in Love
By Rick Warren
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (TLB)
If you want your life to count, then you have to focus it. You don’t have time for everything, and not everything is of equal value.
So what should you focus on? Jesus made it very clear what matters most in life. He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39 TLB).
Jesus said there are two things in life that are more valuable than anything else: The “first and greatest” is loving God. Then, the “second most important” is loving other people. If you get those two things right, then you’ve gotten life right.
Have you ever wondered why God didn’t just take you to heaven when he created you? Why did he put you on Earth? You’re only here for 100 years at most, and then you’re going to live for eternity in heaven or hell. Why didn’t God just take everybody to heaven?
The Bible is very clear that God put you here on Earth to do two things: to learn to love God and to learn to love other people.
Life is not about acquisition—how much you get. Life is not about accomplishment—how much you do. And it’s not about achievement—how much you earn. It’s not about all the things the world tells you it’s about. You’re not taking your career to heaven. You’re not taking your car or your house to heaven. But you are taking your character. You’re taking you.
God put you on Earth for 80 to 100 years so you can learn to love. That’s what life is all about—learning to love God with all your heart and learning to love everyone else too.
Life is one giant lesson in love.
Talk It Over
What do you need to stop doing so that you have more time to practice showing love to others?
In what ways are you making the most of your time on Earth?
Why do you think that learning to love is the most important lesson God wants you to learn?
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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