There is no commandment greater than these. God

Mark 12:30 (NIV) The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this . . . Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind a nd with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Besides the 10 Commandments, there are 603 additional commandments in the Old Testament plus 1050 commandments in the New Testament, for a grand total of 1663 commandments. But they are not all equally important. In fact, Jesus said that if we get the one really important thing straight, everything else will automatically fall into place. And that one all important thing is love.

After telling us that love (agape) is the most important thing, God gives us a lifetime to learn how to love unconditionally - in our marriages, our families, our churches, and our communities. When our life is over, we will each have to give an account of ourselves to Him. And you can't lie to God, nor can you make excuses. How are you doing at love? Will any amount of success in the lesser things make up for failing in the one thing that counts the most?

If you fail at agape, you have failed at the very heart of your being!