“ABOVE ALL VALUE RELATIONSHIPS” MATT. 22:35-40

Introduction:

A recent Harris Poll asked many Americans to name what they considered most important in life. These are the responses.

1. MONEY	5%
2. A FULFILLING CAREER	5%
2. RELIGIOUS FAITH	21%
4. RELATIONSHIPS	56%
5. MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE	12%

• THINK ABOUT HOW CRUCIAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE:

A successful marriage depends upon the RELATIONSHIPS between husband and wife. A happy home depends upon the RELATIONSHIPS between the parents and the children ( and between siblings). A prosperous business depends upon the RELATIONSHIPS between the employees and costumers. A peaceful community depends upon the RELATIONSHIPS between neighbors.

A stable and peaceful nation depends upon the RELATIONSHIPS between nations. Everyone needs someone, John Donne was right when he said, “ no man is an island, entire of himself”. RELATIONSHIPS give life significance, purpose and meaning. Remember who you are matters more than you do. A core of character exists within us that, if activated and lived out, enables us to achieve the greatest possible impact on others. One of the biggest components of our character is our EMOTION.
In German, ich liebe dich.
In Mandarin, Wo ai ni.
In Japanese, Sukiyo.
In Russian, Ya tyebya lyublyu.
In Greek, S’agapo.
In Spanish, Te amo.
In English, I love you.

• LOVE HAS AN UPWARD DIMENSION

Real love is multidimensional. In the passage in Matt., Jesus reveals three directions for LOVE: toward God, others, and ourselves. The FIRST LOVE-FOR GOD-is an upward Love that must take the priority. We should LOVE God first, most, and best. Jesus told us to LOVE GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. God deserves all of our LOVE, not only part of our love. We should Love no one more than God. Love is like a river-it always flows downstream, when the vertical dimension of Love is express and experienced, the horizontal dimension will be a natural result.

• LOVE HAS AN OUTWARD DIMENSION

Jesus also calls us to love our neighbor, A love for God in able and motivates a love for others. Of course, it’s hard to love everybody. As C.W Vanderbergh wrote, “ To love the whole world for me is no chore. My only real problem is my neighbor next door. He is right, because God only told us to love our neighbor not the whole world.

• WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?

Your family, your relatives, your church mate, your friends, your next door, the people you know that has a need. Loving others and expressing that love verbally and tangibly can entail great risk.
1. You need to say it.
2. you need to hear yourself say it.
3. others need to hear you say it.
4. you need it to hear from others.

• LOVE HAS AN INWARD DIMENSION

Love your neighbor as OURSELVES. You cannot give real love for God and for others if you do not have that real LOVE in you. Love can give you a healthy mental picture of yourself. Remember, GOD IS LOVE and he resides in your heart, that is the very reason that we can love GOD and our NEIGHBOR.

• CONCLUSION

GOD empowers us to LOVE, there is no reason to above all VALUE RELATIONSHIPS.

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