Where does it say in the Bible to love God more than anyone else?

Answer 1

The primary guidelines are the Ten Commandments... which are divided into two main themes: Commandments 1 thru 4 - Love God with everything you have; and 5 thru 10 - love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

While the first four Commandments point directly to "loving God"... the last ones, dealing with our relationship with our fellowman, also, directly relate to our respect and obedience to God [or lack thereof]... whether we know it or not. [we're further ahead, if we know it and accept it]

"...Sin is the transgression of the law [the Ten Commandments]." (I John 3:4)

And when we sin [break God's Commandments] against one another... it's our Creator, ultimately, against whom we have "failed to love," because they are all His Commandments.

"Against thee, thee ONLY, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." (Ps.51:4)

This heartfelt prayer of David came in the wake of his adulterous encounter with Bathsheba. Notice, that he doesn't mention the effects of their sin on her and her family, or his family, or any of the many people suffering through his actions [including his kingdom, the continuation of which was at that time in jeopardy]. It all boiled down to David's personal relationship with his God -- whose laws of love, respect and personal relationship, he broke.

So, the general guidelines regarding how to love God are found in His Ten Commandments:

[2nd Commandment:] "...for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that HATE ME; and SHEWING MERCY unto thousands [or, the thousandth generation] of them THAT LOVE ME, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." (Ex.20:5-6)

Learning how to love... to care about and for one another... is the main lesson of this "first phase of" life God has given to men. It doesn't come easy to "selfish flesh"... that naturally loves "old number one" above anyone or anything else; whose philosophy is "I'll take care of me" -- "I, me, mine."

That's why God took the initiative and sacrificed Himself for His creation... to reveal to man what True Love is. It's coming out of yourself for the sake of others.

Love isn't "incoming" self-love. We all love ourselves, naturally... selfishly. That takes no effort at all. Love must move and flow and keep moving to be real love. Self-love is trapped within the self... where it stagnates, festers and dies.

True Love is "outgoing" concern for the well-being of others. It flows away from the self... through others.

God wants us to learn to love one another... care about one another. He's offering His special creation "Eternal Life." Yet, He will not give that gift to anyone who does not first learn to love. Living eternally with hatred in your heart is no way to live.

And it begins with our obedience to His Commandments. Man's first step toward loving God is in emulating His selfless Love toward others... and passing it on.

"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God Perfected." (I John 2:4-5)

"Brethren, I write no new Commandment unto you, but an old Commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old Commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning. (verse 7)

"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (I John 3:11)

"We know that we have passed from death unto Life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death... Hereby perceive we the Love of God, because He laid down His Life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (verses 14-16)

"My little children, let us not Love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in Truth." (verse 18)

"...this is His Commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us Commandment. And he that keepeth His Commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." (verses 23-24)

"Herein is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (I John 4:10-11)

These are some scriptures on "how to love God."

Answer 2

One thought:

The Bible says that "God is Love"(1 John 4:8), so our loving God and other humans is an important part of being a Christian(John 13:35), in fact, we should consider others as superior to ourselves in our treatment of them (Philippians 2:1-4)

In Hebrew, the word for LOVE is 'Ahav'(v) or 'Ahavah'(n).

In Greek, there are four words used for LOVE: Agape', Philia, Storge and Eros.

Eros (sexual love) is never used in the Bible.

'Philostorgos'(tender affection) gives us two other words for love in scripture:

Philia (warm affection, sentimental fondness/ friendship) and Storge (familial love- brother,sister, parents).Love in the congregation should be as warm, strong and close as a family relationship (Romans 12:10; Hebrews 13:1;1Peter 3:8)(1Thessalonians 4:9,10).

Agape (Principled love-with or without affection) is used most often in the Bible. It's a love that is given to someone because it's the right thing to do, not because they've necessarily earned it. It's a matter of will, a principle we deliberately live by, with help from God's holy spirit(Galatians 5:22). It's 'Agape' that enables us to 'Love our enemies'(Matthew 5:44) and work what's good toward all (Galatians 6:10). It's this deep principled love that caused God to send his son while we were still sinners(Romans 5:8)(I John 4:9, 10).

Answer 3

One of the Pharisees, who was versed in the law asked Jesus, to test him. " teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law." Jesus replied. " You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this. You must love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:37 - 39.

He was quoting from the Hebrew scriptures in Deuteronomy 6:5.

Answer 4

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Answer 5

1 John 4:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.