HIM ONLY SHALL THOU SERVE.

GOD DOES NOT PERMIT US THE LUXURY OF PUTTING HIM FIRST IN OUR LIVES. AFTER ALL, IF WE PUT HIM FIRST WHAT DO WE PUT SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH SEVENTH, NINTH, FIFTIETH,, ETC?  JESUS SAYS THAT MAN IS TO SERVE GOD ONLY, [MATT 4:10]. MAN SERVES GOD BY SERVING THOSE ABOUT HIM, [MARK 12: 30,31].  SERVICE TO GOD AND SERVICE TO NEIGHBOR ARE THE TWO SERVING ARMS OF A SINGLE COMMAND, [LUKE 10:25-28].  GOD SAYS TO EACH ONE OF US, " I WANT PEOPLE SERVED AND CARED FOR. YOU ARE MY INSTRUMENT  FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS?"  WE MAY WELL RESPOND, " THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT WHOSE GOING TO CARE FOR ME IN ALL THIS?  GOD ANSWERS, "I WILL, THROUGH OTHERS"
WE CAN ACCEPT AND REJOICE IN WHAT WE ARE. AFTER ALL, GOD MADE US, OWNS US, AND WANTS TO US US. AS  HIS INSTRUMENTS TO SERVE OTHER PEOPLE.  IF WE ARE GOD'S CREATION, POSSESSION  AND INSTRUMENTS, WE HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS OURSELVES. SURPRISINGLY, THESE ARE LISTED IN THE FIRST COMMANDANT, " YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND," [ MARK 12:30,31]. IT IS NOT EASY TO EQUATE THE HEBREW WORDS " HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH, AND MIND."  WITH PRECISE ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. THE BIBLE USES THIS COLLECTION OF TERMS TO STRESS THAT MAN IS TO  SERVE GOD WITH HIS TOTAL BEING. TO MAKE THESE TERMS MEANINGFUL, WE SHALL EXAMINE THEM, IN WORD.
WITH ALL YOUR HEART. ( OR "POWERS OF WILL"). GOD WANTS US TO HAVE INFORMED WILLS EQUIPPED TO WEIGH UP MORAL ISSUES, WILLS ABEL TO RECOGNIZE WHEN NOT TO PROCEED, WHEN TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION, AND WHEN TO PROCEED WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
2. WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. THE WORD "SOUL" IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH. IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR "INNER LIFE FORCE."  THE IMPLICATION IS THAT OUR LIFE'S INNER POWERS NEED TO BE CONTROLLED BY CHRIST. WHEN THIS IS THE CASE, OUR OUTER EMOTIONS POINT TO A HAPPY STATE WITHIN, AND ENABLES US TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
3. WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH (OR "PHYSICAL STRENGTH") . WHAT, AND HOW MUCH, WE FORK OR POUR INTO OUR BODIES. HOW FIT WE KEEP OURSELVES, HAVE A BERING ON WHETHER WE ARE A ASSET FOR THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, OR A LIABILITY OTHERS MAY SERVE.
4 WITH ALL YOUR MIND. (OR "POWERS OF INTELLECT)."   GOD WANTS US TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WHICH BEST EQUIP US TO SERVE OTHERS.
IN SHORT, GOD WISHES US TO HAVE A GOD-PLEASING WILL, INNER LIFE, PHYSICAL LIFE, AND INTELLECT. WHY? THE BETTER TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR! "THOU SHALL LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF."