Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we are most like Him.

Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature.

Of course, God wants us to love everyone, but he is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in his family. Because God wants his family to be known for its love more than anything else. God wants you to be in regular, close fellowship with other believers so you can develop the skill of loving. Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people; irritating, imperfect, frustrating people.

Life without love is really worthless.
Jesus summarized what matters most to God: love God and love people. God says relationships, not achievements or the acquisition of things, are what life is all about. We become occupied with making a living, doing our work, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not.

Love will last forever.
Another reason God tells us to make love our top priority is that it is eternal.  Love leaves a legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.

We will be evaluated on our love.
One of the ways God measures spiritual maturity is by the quality of your relationships. In heaven God won't say, "Tell me about your career, your bank account, and your hobbies." Instead he will review how you treated other people, particularly those in need.

The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. If you want to know a person's priorities, just look at how they use their time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time. The essence of love is how much we give of ourselves.

Question to Consider:       
Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?

Verse to Remember:

The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love Your Neighbor as yourself.

Galatians 5:14