Godly Relationships: The First and Greatest Commandment

Putting God first is not simply saying He is first.

I started a weekly men’s bible study on Tuesdays and decided to collab with my brother Lewis (Iron sharpens Iron podcast) in order to build a space just for men that want to strengthen their relationship with God, and with others.

We have been going through a new series titled Godly Relationships. For the first week, we focused on the foundation of every relationship — God. The second week, we talked about brotherhood, and iron sharpening iron. The third week, we focused on romantic relationships, and for the last week of this series which is coming up this Tuesday, the 23rd, our focus will be on relationships at home, at work, and in the community.

What I want to highlight from our series, is the foundation of every relationship — God!

In Matthew 22, verses 37-39, it says, “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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

The Greek word used for “love” here is agapaō (ἀγαπάω), referring to a selfless, sacrificial, and wholehearted love that seeks God’s will above personal desires.

Historical Context

Jesus was answering a question from the Pharisees, who were attempting to test Him. Rather than choosing from the hundreds of commands found in the Law, Jesus summarized them all with two commands: love God completely and love your neighbor. He was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, showing that every commandment ultimately flows from these two relationships.

Devotional Thought

When the Pharisees asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was from the Law, He did not start with marriage, friendship, family, or even ministry. He started with our relationship with God.

As men, we often focus on improving our relationships with others. We want to be better husbands, fathers, friends, leaders, and coworkers. While those are good desires, Jesus reminds us that every healthy relationship begins with loving God first.

The truth is that we cannot consistently give others what we are not first receiving from God. When our relationship with Him is weak, our patience becomes shorter, our priorities become distorted, and our love for others often becomes conditional.

Many things compete for first place in our hearts. Work. Success. Money. Entertainment. Social media. Even good things like family or ministry can become unhealthy when they take God’s rightful place.

Putting God first is not simply saying He is first. It is making daily choices that reflect His importance. It means spending time in His Word, talking with Him in prayer, seeking His guidance, and obeying Him even when it is difficult.

When God is in the right place, every other relationship benefits. Every relationship we discuss in this series—friendships, marriage, family, brotherhood, and even our relationship with those who hurt us—flows from this foundation. A man who is growing closer to God will become a better husband, father, friend, and leader because he is being shaped by the One who created those relationships.

I want to leave some questions for you to reflect on.

1. What does putting God first look like in your daily life right now?
2. How is your relationship with God affecting your marriage, friendships, family, or work?
3. What is currently competing with God for first place in your heart?
4. What practical change can you make this week to prioritize your relationship with Him?

If you’re thinking, “What now?”

Well, I want to encourage you to complete these challenges this week and share what God does in your life as you complete them.

1. Intentionally demonstrate Christ-like love to at least one person this week through encouragement, service, forgiveness, patience, or generosity.
2. Set aside at least 15 uninterrupted minutes each day this week to spend with God through prayer and Scripture. 

Ask yourself each day:

“Is God truly first in my life today?”

Write down one thing God teaches you during that time.

Memory Verse

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” — Matthew 22:37

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us first. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind. Reveal anything that is competing for first place in our lives and give us the courage to surrender it to You. As we grow closer to You, help us become better husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Looking Ahead

Next week, we will explore the relationships between family, work, and community members and what it looks like to represent Christ in every relationship in a world that often promotes selfishness, isolation and surface-level connections.

Join Our Community & Listen to the Podcast

If you want to listen and/or watch the previous Bible studies, check out the Iron Sharpens Iron podcast which is available on Spotify and YouTube. We also have a Community on WhatsApp where men exchange testimonies, keep each other accountable, and celebrate each others wins in Christ. If you’re a man looking to be a part of a faith-filled men’s community, click on the link below.