God first loved you (1 John 4:10). It’s an undeserved love. He first recruited you to be on his team. You become great in God’s sight when you return his love by loving him with all your heart, soul, mind, and might. But that’s not all. Your expression of love for God on this earth comes when you love what God loves the most: your neighbors. His children - all of whom are his image-bearers - created equal in his sight. How are we to love our neighbors? Jesus specifically said we are to love our neighbors as we do ourselves (Luke 10:27). Though we live in a world fraught with low self-esteem, which can lead the human heart to devalue the lives of others, even the person who loathes himself actually loves himself, placing himself at the center of the universe. He feeds, clothes, and entertains himself regularly. He spends most of his time and money on himself. He prioritizes his own needs above others’ needs. Jesus challenges this self-absorption with the Great Commandment. He pointedly says that if you love God, you are to love your neighbor as you love yourself. If you love God, you are to spend time, effort, money, and energy on your neighbors - especially your neighbors who are hurting - the way that you love and take care of yourself. Love your neighbor as yourself. When you do, you become great in God’s sight.
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