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The Great Commandment (CLICK YOUR BROWSERS "BACK" BUTTON WHEN FINISHED) |
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I have heard a great deal about the Great Commission – I have heard very little about the Great Commandment. I find this rather strange, don’t you? There is something about the Great Commission that demands action – it is something we do. This always impresses people. The Great Commandment is different though – vastly different. It isn’t something we do, but something we are. This requires character – this doesn’t always appeal to people. Too, this kind of love can only come from God – we can never point at ourselves and say see what I have done. I wonder though, what would happen if as much emphasis was put on the Great Commandment as we put on the Great Commission? Perhaps it wouldn’t make any difference, but I think it would. Paul told the Corinthians to pursue love – he meant for them to make it their life’s ambition – he meant this for us too. Love you see, is the cornerstone of our faith, the foundation of our worship. Love is who God is, love is what God does. I think the trouble lies in getting the cart before the horse. We put the Great Commission ahead of the Great Commandment. There is a subtle danger here. When we do this it promotes activity rather than productivity. It has been said that the church is a mile wide and an inch deep. This, of course, is the natural outcome of putting Commission before Commandment. Now both are necessary you know, but only in the right order. I applaud all the activity and efforts being expended on behalf of the Commission. Even at this moment tens of millions of dollars are being spent following the Great Commission – all well and good. But I wonder if we aren’t widening the church without increasing its depth? You know what? Putting the Commandment before the Commission won’t take away from the Commission, it will fulfill it. When we love God as we ought to love God there is nothing that we won’t do with Him and for Him. You see, there is a great truth here. The Commandment transforms us, and it is the transformed that fulfill the Commission. Love will always lead to service,
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