So what is the connection between loving God and loving our neighbour? If there is real love of God, there will be love for ourselves, and love for our neighbour.

See how complete Jesus reminds us this love for God is meant to be: all our heart, soul and mind.

We are so often tempted to hold something back. We want to love ourselves on our own terms – to love ourselves fully, like we should love God. But that would lead to a world full of Gods, and how would that work out?

Or we are tempted to put these two loves in opposition. I can either be good, ethical, and law-abiding to love God, or I can just love people. The problem with this is that true love of our neighbour flows from the love ofGod. Our love for God leads to love of our neighbours, which leads us to want to act right toward them. Without love for God, and an experience of his love, we each have to define love for ourselves, and we all have different ideas about what love is!

We’ll see tomorrow how Jesus’ self-giving love sets the pattern for our love, while freeing us from the traps of loving ourselves first, trying to use others to earn our salvation, or any other attempt to manipulate God or others.

Question: Define love.

Ryan Sim - June 10, 2013

Monday - A New Idea - Needs

In 2009, Pew Research studied needs of American consumers from 1996 to 2006. In 10 years, percentage who said these things were necessities changed this way: • Microwave doubled to 68% • Dishwasher rose from 13% to 35% • Cell phone from zero to 49% in 10 years • hi speed internet from zero to 29% • iPod was brand new, from zero to 3% http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2010/10/Luxury.pdf I wish we had newer numbers. Many would still be far higher since, and include brand new “needs” like a data plan, iPad and more. Canadian numbers probably wouldn’t include as many air conditioners. It’s hard to identify a need vs. a want – the constant march of modern life toward new technology tricks us into thinking old wants are now needs. We forget that we ever got by! Question: What is the difference between a want and a need?

Related Topics: Needs, Prayer | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"

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