Loving God Above All Else
What the title expresses is exactly what God requires of man. But what would that look like in practice? Does this commandment include letting go of human affections, or does it refer only to material possessions? Let’s take a look.
The biblical text commands: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).
When two and a half tribes of the people of Israel asked Moses to settle on the east side of the Jordan River—since that region was suitable for raising livestock, which they possessed in abundance—Moses imposed a condition. The warriors were to first cross the Jordan to help the other tribes take possession of the Promised Land; only then could they return to their own lands.
The conquest was not a quick process; it took years. During that time, these men gave up the comforts of their homes and the company of their families, depriving themselves of time with their wives and children to fight alongside their brothers.
Likewise, when Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave specific instructions regarding detachment from material possessions and family ties: “Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts; no traveler’s bag for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave” (Matthew 10:9–11). To fulfill this mission, many had to temporarily leave their homes and families.
Such total commitment is not well-received by modern disciples. Today, those who apply for a missionary position usually demand financial guarantees to support themselves and their dependents. However, Jesus, being God, did not guarantee a home even for Himself—for He had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20)—nor for those who accompanied Him in His ministry.
Loving God above all things includes entrusting one’s family to His care, confident that He will provide. This requires faith, grounded in the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Furthermore, it requires exclusive dedication. As the apostle Paul rightly warns: “No soldier on active duty gets entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4).
The major problem today is the attempt to reconcile one’s own interests with those of God, often putting God’s plans in second place. The desire for marriage is justified by arguing that “it is better to be two than one” or that “it is not good for man to be alone,” while forgetting the examples of self-denial and celibacy set by Paul, John the Baptist, and Elijah.
Therefore, truly loving God has much deeper and more demanding implications than we are capable of imagining—or than we would like to accept.
Oli Prestes
Missionay
The biblical text commands: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).
When two and a half tribes of the people of Israel asked Moses to settle on the east side of the Jordan River—since that region was suitable for raising livestock, which they possessed in abundance—Moses imposed a condition. The warriors were to first cross the Jordan to help the other tribes take possession of the Promised Land; only then could they return to their own lands.
The conquest was not a quick process; it took years. During that time, these men gave up the comforts of their homes and the company of their families, depriving themselves of time with their wives and children to fight alongside their brothers.
Likewise, when Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave specific instructions regarding detachment from material possessions and family ties: “Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts; no traveler’s bag for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave” (Matthew 10:9–11). To fulfill this mission, many had to temporarily leave their homes and families.
Such total commitment is not well-received by modern disciples. Today, those who apply for a missionary position usually demand financial guarantees to support themselves and their dependents. However, Jesus, being God, did not guarantee a home even for Himself—for He had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20)—nor for those who accompanied Him in His ministry.
Loving God above all things includes entrusting one’s family to His care, confident that He will provide. This requires faith, grounded in the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Furthermore, it requires exclusive dedication. As the apostle Paul rightly warns: “No soldier on active duty gets entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4).
The major problem today is the attempt to reconcile one’s own interests with those of God, often putting God’s plans in second place. The desire for marriage is justified by arguing that “it is better to be two than one” or that “it is not good for man to be alone,” while forgetting the examples of self-denial and celibacy set by Paul, John the Baptist, and Elijah.
Therefore, truly loving God has much deeper and more demanding implications than we are capable of imagining—or than we would like to accept.
Oli Prestes
Missionay
oliprest
Enviado por oliprest em 24/10/2026
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