Biblical Answer

The Priority of Love

The priority of love is the key to understanding the place of all the commands. When the best interest of another or ourselves and the best interest of God come into conflict, love must make a choice. This is where the concept of controlling love becomes evident. We are designed to love, just as we are capable of cruelty. Our circumstances, genetics, and deep pasts are certainly factors in our decisions, but they do not excuse us from loving others as God intends.

Biblical love is not just a feeling or a warm emotion, but a choice we make to prioritize the interests of others and God above our own. This love is not just a tolerance or a special indignation for the oppressed, but a commitment to act with love and truth. In fact, love and truth are equally important, and we are to avoid extremism that pursues either at the expense of the other. Our love grows soft if it is not strengthened by truth, and our truth hard if it is not softened by love.

In resolving conflicts, we must identify the objects of love and then turn to the biblical way for resolving the conflict. Our love for God is the supreme objective, as Christ tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are also commanded to love one another, which means we should love others as we love ourselves. This love involves having a servant's heart, a willingness to count others better than ourselves and to serve and look out for their interests as well as our own. By prioritizing love, we can overcome obstacles to faith and cultivate a life that reflects Christian values and teachings.