That we should love God supremely and love our neighbor as ourselves is certainly not in dispute. However, the question is, how do we show this love to God and to our neighbor?

Writes the apostle John, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2, 3, emphasis added).

Thus, if we profess love for God but refuse to obey Him, we’re not really being truthful according to Scripture.

Consider a dad with two sons. The first son comes to him and says, “Dad, I love you, but I cannot obey you.” A little later, the second son walks up and says, “Dad, I love you, and I will try to obey you.”

Which son do you think truly loves his father? Most people would agree that the one who said he would try to obey his father is the truly loving son.

Well, we show our love to God in the same way. Keeping the first four commandments, which involve love for God, shows that our supreme affection is given to our Creator. Keeping the last six, which involve love for our neighbor, is also convincing evidence of our genuine love for God.