In the book of Mark, it is said that a scribe was listening to disputes between Jesus and those standing around him. When he saw that Jesus was answering the disputes well, he was led to ask Jesus a question himself. The scribe asked what the greatest commandment of all was, and Jesus replied:
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
— Mark 12:30–31
A little further down, the scripture says:
”…And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
— Mark 12:34
Modern translation: Mic drop.
Because Jesus was giving such good answers to his detractors, a sincerely seeking scribe was led to ask Jesus his own question. In essence, he wanted to know the most important of God’s commandments to follow. This man wanted direction for his life. Apparently, humanity has been asking this question for thousands of years. How lucky for this scribe to have been born at such a time as that he could ask Jesus directly!
Lucky for us, he did ask, and Jesus answered, and it was written down for all to know. If you want direction for your life, first love God, then love each other.
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
— 1 John 4:12
May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Romans 15:5–6
Following the greatest commandment of the Lord by loving him, and thus seeking his counsel, we are taught that the second greatest commandment is to love each other. When we love each other, we are able to move toward the acceptance of the gift of like-mindedness toward each other.
Why? To glorify in unison God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our purpose, this is our plan, this is our direction, this is our hope.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
— Romans 6:5