Loving God should be the most important thing for a Christian wherever they may be. Sadly, there are some Christians who equate loving God just with serving people, but neglect having a personal relationship with Jesus or going to church. While serving people or doing good things is good and commendable, it should not come before our relationship with the Lord.
Why loving God is top priority
Jesus spoke twice about this matter, emphasising that we should love God more than any other. First, we see Him talking to the public about it in Matthew 22:34-40.
"But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Here, Jesus was talking to those who did not recognise Him as the Messiah. Simply put, all the world must know that God and loving Him should be top priority over all.
What about works?
The second time Jesus spoke about it, He was talking to the church in Ephesus who prioritised doing good instead of loving God first. We read that in Revelation 2:1-6.
"'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
First love first
Of all the letters to the churches that the Lord Jesus gave in the book of Revelation, this was the first, and it focused on what's important to Him: that we prioritise loving God more than doing what is good.
The church of Ephesus was an amazing church outwardly. They had patience, perseverance, and holiness. They strived for the right teachings. They rejected false prophets. They were so passionate in serving the Lord, yet they failed in loving God as they did at the time when they first met Him. The Living Bible translation reads, "you don't love me as at first!"
What does this mean? It simply means that our love for the Lord should never diminish! We cannot replace loving God with serving Him. We cannot replace daily devotions with daily good works. We cannot replace daily Bible reading with Christian podcasts. We cannot replace personal prayer and worship times with corporate prayer and worship - or none at all! We cannot replace our relationship with our Father God with a "Christian love" for people.
Friends, we must return to our first love. We must prioritise our relationship with God more than anything on earth. We should grow more in love with Him, the one who is infinite, and His love everlasting.
