Two Concepts That Will Change Your World

Illustration by: pat138241

Have you ever watched the news and thought, “I’d like to change the world”?  Have you ever wanted to make a real, lasting difference? 

You can!

At least, you can begin something that will affect you and everyone around you. You can put into effect one of the big secrets of Christian living. (Actually, it just seems like a secret. It’s been known for thousands of years.)

A Pharisee once asked Jesus, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? That was a legitimate question. He was being testy, but he wanted to know.

So, what’s the Great Commandment? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

The First Way to Change Your World: Love God with every part of you: your heart, soul, and mind. This is a complete giving of oneself to God. The characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 are all about giving. Love is about dedicating oneself to please another. It’s unselfish. It’s unlimited. It’s unconditional. Love is the most beautiful quality one can have. When you love God with all your being, God will change you.

Jesus wasn’t through with His answer. He continued, And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The Second Way to Change Your World: Love others, just like you love yourself. The Bible says that no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it (from Ephesians 5:29). So, you need to love others, take care of others, nourish and cherish them, just as you love yourself. Just like your love for God, this loving other people is all about unselfish giving.

Jesus summed it all up for the Pharisee: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.* The law--The Ten Commandments plus the other rules in the Old Testament--and all the prophecies in Scripture are summed up in these two concepts: 1. Love God. 2. Love others.

Do you love God? 

• Do you know Him? Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me (John 7:28-29). We can know God through His Son Jesus Christ, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 4:6-11). Is Jesus Christ your Lord?
• Do you love God with all your being? 
• Is He your Everything? 
• Do you want to please Him in everything you do, say, and think? 
• Do you love Him sacrificially, unconditionally, unselfishly, and forever?

Do you love others?

• Are you willing to sacrifice your time, energy, and money for the good of others? 
• Do you value other people as highly as you do yourself? The Bible says, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). We’re to put others before ourselves!
• Are you completely unselfish?

It never hurts to be reminded of the qualities of love as listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. 

Love:

• Puts up with, is patient
• Is kind
• Doesn’t envy
• Doesn’t boast
• Isn’t proud
• Doesn’t behave badly
• Isn’t selfish
• Isn’t irritable
• Doesn’t think badly of others
• Doesn’t enjoy sin
• Enjoys truth (the Bible, God Himself)
• Forbears
• Believes
• Trusts
• Endures
• Never fails

So, look back over the characteristics of love and analyze your love for God. Do you really love Him? 

Look at them again and think about how you love people (family and others). Do you really love people?

Think how practical it is that God gave us a two-point outline for our lives. Imagine a world where people love God with their whole beings and truly love people also. 

Now, that’s revolutionary.

Let it begin with you! 

You’ll change your world.

*The main story is found in Matthew 22:34-40; it’s also in Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27.