What the title expresses is exactly what God requires of man. But what would that look like in practice? Does this commandment involve renouncing human affections, or does it refer only to material possessions? Let us consider this.

The biblical text commands: ‘You shall therefore 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 bank of the River Jordan — as that region was suitable for rearing livestock, which they possessed in abundance — Moses imposed a condition. The warriors were first to cross the Jordan to help the other tribes take possession of the Promised Land; only then could they return to their own lands.

The process of conquest was not swift; it took years. During this period, these men gave up the comforts of their homes and the company of their families, depriving themselves of the company of their wives and children to fight alongside their brothers.

Similarly, when Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave specific instructions regarding detachment from material possessions and family ties: ‘Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts; no bag for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the labourer 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 fulfil this mission, many had to temporarily leave their homes and families.
Such total commitment is not well regarded by modern disciples. Today, those who apply for a missionary post usually demand financial guarantees to support themselves and their dependants. However, Jesus, being God, did not secure a home 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 demands exclusive dedication. As the apostle Paul rightly warns: ‘No soldier in active service gets entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him’ (2 Timothy 2:4).

The great problem of our time is the attempt to reconcile one’s own interests with those of God, often putting God’s plans second. 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’, whilst forgetting the examples of self-denial and celibacy set by Paul, John the Baptist and Elijah.

Therefore, truly loving God has far deeper and more demanding implications than we are capable of imagining — or than we would like to accept.

Oli Prestes
Missionary