Our reading today states the greatest commandment ever given and it's in Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest command. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus was being continually tested by the Pharisees and when they asked Him, "What is the greatest commandment in the law?" He was ready for them. This is tied to the first commandment to have not other God's before Him, but it goes well beyond that. This commandment talks about Agape' love, a supreme love that involves a choice to do good for others based on the choice of the person providing the love, not on the qualities of the person receiving the love. God wants us to love Him just the way He loves us, the secondly, to show this same love to others; in our families, our neighbors, those we work with, throughout our community.
Proverbs 3:21 simply tells us, "My son, let them not depart from your eyes -- keep sound wisdom and discernment."
I like how Solomon combines wisdom and discernment; they really are linked together. You can be wise with book smarts, but discernment gives you street smarts as well.
From Proverbs 4:14-15 we read very straight forward instruction, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on."
This nugget of wisdom should be emblazoned on my arm so whenever I am tempted to do something I shouldn't, all I have to do is look down and know the best thing to do is just walk away from it.
Blessings to all
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