Keep the Main Thing: Love God First

Jesus answers the lawyer’s test by taking everything back to the center: love the Lord with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love the neighbor as the self. On these two hang all the law and the prophets, so the main thing is love, and keeping the main thing the main thing orders every other thing. The text shows that religious folks can miss it, confusing the fight, forgetting the enemy is the devil, not other denominations. Jesus’ words pull the church out of majors-in-minors religion into a living relationship where love drives obedience: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

The call to love God first lands as a question about relationship. Relationship has levels, and a strong relationship requires knowing the one loved. Matthew 7 warns that public church work without knowing God will hear, “I don’t know you.” That stings, but it is mercy, because salvation is not by talent or tasks. Knowing God comes by knowing his Word, which is his autobiography, and by walking the talk so that the life lines up with the lips.

God’s order is nonnegotiable. “God never takes second place.” If God is not first, he is not in it. So decisions, places, thoughts, and loyalties get filtered through one question: is God pleased? Obedience can feel costly, like Hosea’s story, but love makes costly obedience possible. Gratitude sharpens love, too; providence shows up on highways and in close calls, and thanks becomes fuel for devotion, not just noise.

Love for God births love for people. Jesus says the world will know his disciples by love, not by titles or show. Acts 1:8 gives the power to be witnesses, not performers, so everyday faithfulness becomes the pulpit. The question lands plain: what does God look like when people see this life? Ambassadors carry a name; so character in public is not private business, it is God’s business.

Two nuggets frame the finish. First, God never plays second to anyone or anything. Second, if a relationship is not growing and thriving, it is dying and faulty. Ezekiel warns that finish lines matter more than starting lines. So the church keeps the main thing the main thing, loves God first, loves neighbor truly, and remembers the cross with sober joy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Keep the main thing love [27:46] Love for God and neighbor is not a side note; it is the hinge on which the whole law and the prophets swing. When love leads, obedience follows without a sheriff standing over it. Without love, rule-keeping turns brittle and mean, but with love, holiness grows warm and steady. [27:46]
• 2. God never takes second place [40:02] If God is not first, the heart will always negotiate with idols called family, career, or comfort. Ordering loves correctly clarifies decisions and simplifies obedience. Costly assignments become possible because love does not ask whether it is easy, only whether God is pleased. [40:02]
• 3. Works cannot replace knowing God [35:46] Ministry resumes and religious activity can hide an empty heart, but Jesus still says, “I don’t know you.” Being known by God grows from trust, repentance, and a life under his Word, not from talent or busyness. Scripture functions as God’s autobiography, introducing his heart so relationship can be real, not assumed. [35:46]
• 4. A relationship must grow or die [48:38] Spiritual life does not plateau safely; it either moves forward or slides back. Growth comes as the believer feeds the soul with Word, prayer, obedience, and service aimed at God’s glory. Neglect starves love, and starved love caves under pressure. [48:38]
• 5. The Spirit empowers everyday witness [50:33] Power is given to be witnesses, not to perform for applause. Quiet faithfulness, seasoned by the Spirit, draws people who can sense a different spirit and seek help when life breaks. The piercing question remains: when people see this life, what does God look like to them? [50:33]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:34] - Opening prayer and praise
• [26:40] - Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40
• [28:59] - Keep the main thing the main thing
• [30:17] - Love God, love neighbor
• [31:50] - How is your relationship?
• [35:01] - "I never knew you"
• [39:44] - God never takes second place
• [44:01] - Testimony of God's protection
• [46:38] - Known by love alone
• [50:33] - Power to be witnesses
• [52:41] - Ambassadors: what do people see?
• [58:54] - Two nuggets and finishing well
• [63:49] - Communion: body and blood
• [67:43] - Blessing and sending

1. In Matthew 22:37-39, what two commands does Jesus say are the foundation of all biblical teaching? How does He prioritize them?
2. According to Matthew 7:21-23, what warning does Jesus give to those who perform religious acts without a relationship with Him? [35:01]
3. What specific role does Acts 1:8 say the Holy Spirit empowers believers to fulfill? How does this differ from mere performance? [50:33]
4. The sermon mentions Hosea’s story as an example of costly obedience. What made Hosea’s obedience so difficult? [40:39]

1. Why do you think religious leaders (like the Pharisees) often opposed Jesus, even though they claimed to serve God? How does this relate to the danger of prioritizing rules over relationship?
2. Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). How does love for God transform obedience from a duty to a desire? [30:55]
3. Acts 1:8 emphasizes being “witnesses” rather than performers. What does it look like to rely on the Spirit’s power instead of human effort in daily life? [50:33]
4. The sermon warns, “If a relationship is not growing, it’s dying.” How does Ezekiel’s warning about finishing well (Ezekiel 18:24-26) reinforce this idea? [59:58]

1. What practical step could you take this week to prioritize loving God “with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” in a specific area (e.g., time, decisions, relationships)? [39:44]
2. Reflect on your relationship with God: Is it growing or plateauing? Name one habit (e.g., prayer, Scripture study, serving) you could start or deepen to nurture that growth. [48:38]
3. The sermon asks, “What does God look like when people see your life?” [52:41] What aspect of your character or actions might misrepresent Him to others? How can you align this with His love?
4. Think of a recent “close call” or blessing (like the car accident testimony). How can gratitude for God’s protection fuel your love and obedience? [44:01]
5. Identify one relationship (family, coworker, neighbor) where you’ve struggled to love selflessly. What small, intentional act of love could you do for them this week? [46:38]
6. Are there areas (career, hobbies, comfort) where you’ve subtly placed God second? What would it look like to surrender these to Him as “first place” this month? [40:02]