Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 22:35 “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Noah Webster’s The Value of the Bible and Excellence of the Christian Religion: For the Use of Families and Schools provided a powerful set of practical and theological tools for his growing country in 1834. Two complementary passages help provide proper priority, orientation, and allegiance for Christians then and now:
“Men are prone to consider their social duties to their fellow men as the first in importance, and all that are necessary to be observed in order to secure God’s favor. This is a pernicious mistake, and probably the ruin of millions of the human race. Supreme love to God, and reverence for his character, and laws, is the first duty of men, and the true source of all other duties. Obedience to God’s laws, to be genuine, must spring from love to him; and a conformity to his character is that which constitutes excellence in human character.” (p. 32)
“The dignity of man, in the view of the world, consists in elevation of rank in society, superior intelligence, and high minded notions of honor. These are qualities which make men respected in society, and are of real value to the possessor. But these qualities may be and often are united, in the same character, with the foulest of vices. There is another species of dignity which consists in the abhorrence of every vice, and in the aiming at the excellence which has a resemblance to the divine perfections. God is the only perfect being, the only model of all excellence; and no man can be possessed of true dignity of character, without purity of heart, and a divine principle which elevates the affections above the love of that which God abhors and forbids. Whatever God forbids is degrading, however fashionable it may be, and however esteemed among men. it is our first duty to seek the honor that comes from God.” (p. 79-80)
Loving God as the utmost priority will yield a proper perspective to effectively and rightfully love others, while avoiding the trappings of pride and self-promotion.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO PRIORITIZE LOVING GOD AND ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH HIM ABOVE ALL ELSE. We must avoid the pernicious desire to please people … however fashionable it may be.
