Love Matters Most
Series: 40 Days of Love
February 22, 2009
Pastor Bill Bump
Matthew 22:36-39 (LB)
“Sir, which is the most important command in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘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.’”
This verse is referred to as the Great Commandment.
God put us here on earth to do two things: to learn to love God and to learn to love other people.
THREE LAWS OF LOVE
1. THE BEST USE OF LIFE IS LOVE.
Three reasons why love is more important than anything else:
A. Love validates my faith.
I John 4:8 (NIV)
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Love proves that I really am in God’s family.
I John 4:20 (TEV)
"If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen."
B. Love integrates my life.
Love should become our dominant life principle.
Colossians 3:14 (CEV)
"Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together."
C. Love reverberates forever.
I Corinthians 13:13 (NCV)
"Three things will continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love."
What’s going to last is what we did in love. Nothing else we do on this planet is permanent.
I Corinthians 13:3 (Mes)
"...no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love."
2. THE BEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE IS TIME.
I John 3:18 (LB)
"...let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions."
The most desired gift of love is focused attention.
Every time I give you a minute of my time I’m never going to get it back.
Galatians 5:6 (NIV)
"...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)
"Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins…"
The truth is, most of us are in time-starved relationships.
3. THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW.
Whatever you intend to do with your life, do it now.
Galatians 6:10 (NLT)
"Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…"
Proverbs 3:27,28 (GN)
"Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help him now."
CONCLUSION:
Question: Who do you need to show love today?
I Corinthians 14:1 (NLT)
"Let love be your highest goal..."
