The Ultimate Expression of Right Relationship

Our student ministry takes several overnight trips throughout the year.  Before we depart I gather everyone into a circle where I give my initial ONE RULE for the trip . . . respect and obey the adult leaders going on the trip!  In my small mind this ONE RULE requires the students to obey all the “other” rules that we as adults will make up all along the rest of the way.  Not confusing, not hard to remember, simply DO EVERYTHING the adult leaders ask.  Wouldn’t it be nice if in order to be FULLY obedient to God there was just . . . ONE RULE!?!

READ: Leviticus 19:18

God’s ONE RULE of right relationship is LOVE!  Although the Old Testament law is made up of hundreds of relational, social, and civil laws (including the 10 commandments) in order that we might know how to be in right relationship with God and others, Jewish scholars believed Leviticus 19:18 summarized all the laws in the Old Testament.  The New Testament quotes or alludes to Leviticus 19:18 several times in order to explain that through the action of LOVE we fulfill (obey) the entire Law and Prophets.  For example, Romans 13:8-10 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (cf Gal. 5:14; Jms. 2:8)”.

Jesus agreed that the single most important relational rule is LOVE.  In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus was asked what the greatest rule in the Old Testament law was and He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”  God’s one rule, the ultimate expression of right relationship is . . . LOVE!  This one rule, if obeyed, allows us to simultaneously obey all other rules God has revealed to us.  What is αγαπη love?  Aγαπη love has 4 important characteristics . . .

Aγαπη love is SELFLESS and SACRIFICIAL – Loving requires putting others’ interests, wants, and desires above our own (Phil. 2:3-4).  Love is willing to serve by placing high value and worth on others.  How can I put the other person’s interests above my own in this relationship?

Aγαπη love is an ACTION or DEED that meets a NEED – Loving recognizes and responds to the needs of others (Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 3:17-18).  Love is willing to be merciful and compassionate toward others.  What are the greatest needs of the other person in this relationship?

Aγαπη love is for the GOOD or BENEFIT of others – Loving results in others’ experiencing good, blessing, benefit, or pleasure.  Love is willing to benevolent and charitable toward others (Gal. 6:9; 1 Thes. 5:15).  What can I say or do in this relationship that will bring the other person joy or blessing?

Aγαπη love is a Spirit-led DECISION – Loving is a spiritually rational choice (1 John 4:19).  Love is not based on feeling or preference but a decision of the will to treat others in the way God treats us.  How does God’s love for me help me to choose to love in this relationship?

CONCLUSION
1 Corinthians 13:8 says that “LOVE NEVER FAILS”!  Love is failproof in relationships.  You can’t go wrong if you love in relationships.  Love will always, 100% of the time, be the right thing to do in relationship.  Right relationship with others is dependent upon how willing we are to be loving toward them!  Don’t forget, αγαπη love is the way God relates us!  Are you ready to relate with others according to God’s one “never failing” rule of love?