The Second Most Important Person

We unconsciously categorize people we know and don’t know. Oh, it’s not intentional but it’s what we do.  We seem to have these criteria:

Family = I love them and they love me. They are very important.

Friends =I like them and they like me. I have degrees of importance for them.

Co-workers =They’re OK, but I could live without them unless they are friends.

Acquaintances = My effort to develop relationships is dependent on what they will do for me.

Strangers = They are not important in my grand scheme of things unless they benefit me.

   

People I don’t like = Avoid! Avoid!

 If I’m being honest with you, I’d have to admit that the importance of a person is based on how valuable they are to me. Some people give me unconditional love and security. Some people give me acceptance and stroke my ego. Some people will further my career. Some people will fulfill my need to be philanthropic and make me feel like a better person. Some people will encourage me.  And if you don’t fit these categories, well, avoid, avoid. I put my wants and desires first before I’m even aware of it.  As I said earlier, “If I’m being honest with you…” Most times I don’t want to admit that about myself. I’d like to have spiritual and altruistic motives but it doesn't always get to the subconscious level. Maybe you can admit that to. I think it goes back to our original sin nature which is; me, me, and more me!

Jesus said that it all comes down to two overriding life philosophies. (Matthew 22:35-39)

The first life philosophy is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind. Love God without putting conditions on Him. Love Him because He is. Love Him with all of your emotion. Love Him with all your inner self that no one sees but God and you. Love Him with all of your conscious and unconscious thoughts. There is no room for you in this command. Jesus said that it is the greatest command.  Your love for God takes priority over everything.

The second life philosophy is to love everyone around you with the same affection you have for yourself. There are no degrees of how much more you like one person over the other.  There is no subconscious categorization.  There’s just the command to love.

Now, I did say that these are overriding life philosophies. If we just go to “default,” we’ll go to loving ourselves every time.  We have to submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him push the “override” button. We have to look at every one through Jesus’ love-colored glasses.

I like the way my Sunday-School teacher said it.

“The most important person in your life is God.

The second most important person is

the next person you see.”