The Biggest Mistake in Life

Exodus 20 has profound significance in God’s Word because it marks the delivery of the Ten Commandments by God to Moses, the leader of the Israelites; God’s chosen people in the Old Testament. The first four commandments focus on the relationship between God and humanity; and the very first commandment is the foundation upon which all the others rest. Exodus 20:1-3 (NLT) states: “1 Then God gave the people all these instructions: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me.”” Adhering to this foundational commandment is indispensable for all who love God and honor their relationship with Him.

To grasp the deeper meaning of God’s commandment in Exodus 20:3, it’s important to reflect on our own desires and aspirations for love. It’s no secret that in our modern times, many singles express frustration over what they perceive as a scarcity of suitable partners. However, the issue isn’t about 'slim pickings.' What people truly seek is a love that is genuine and enduring. They want to invest in someone with the capacity to love them with honesty, loyalty, commitment, and persistence. This kind of love is trustworthy and unwavering. It provides assurance and conviction in its depth and sincerity. All of us are wired for love; it comes standard with our packaging. We yearn for a love that is lasting and authentic, and we understand on a fundamental level that if it isn’t authentic, it isn’t worth having; it will not meet our needs.

There’s no room in life for trying to define what love is for ourselves. 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love—He is the ultimate definition of love itself. As we navigate through life, we are called to be conduits of his perfect love by imitating Him in all that we do. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) vividly portrays God's standard for authentic love: “4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” This profound passage not only defines how God loves us and expects us to love others, but more importantly, it emphasizes how we should love Him.

God’s heart is to have a family and we’re it! Genesis 1:26 tells us that He made us in His very own image, and Romans 8:29 (NLT) says, “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” From the very beginning, we were shaped from God’s perfect love to share His perfect love and to receive it in return.  

This is a glorious standard that is filled with all the blessings of heaven. Inviting those blessings into our lives begins with loving God preeminently and authentically. Our love for Him must be deeply rooted in our hearts and minds. The foremost hallmark of our deep affection for Him is that we will place no other god before Him. This foundational commitment ensures our alignment with His divine Will. It opens the way for us to experience the fullness of His blessings.

Without the example of Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are not capable of a love that is lasting and true. However, through the example of Christ, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we have the capacity for enduring and genuine love. Romans 5:5 (NLT) tells us, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Just as we cherish receiving authentic love from those close to us, we should expect no less from God, the Source of genuine, unconditional, limitless, and everlasting love. His love transcends our understanding, and through Christ, He has equipped us to reciprocate quality love to Him, as His children.

Our love for God is not only foundational but also determines the depth of richness and fulfillment we experience in life. Far too often, we prioritize and elevate material wealth, other relationships, popularity, and physical appearance as idols in our lives. These pursuits become habitual patterns that signify our worship of these earthly things, overshadowing our relationship with our Heavenly Father. This is not the way love behaves. These misplaced priorities lead us away from God’s love and reroute us down a destructive path that betrays our purpose.

It’s a distortion that reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of love. True love is exemplified by God's unconditional and sacrificial love for us through Christ. Our love for Him calls upon us to prioritize our Heavenly Father above all else. This aligns with the command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” We are misled by darkness if we believe that pursuing worldly priorities will yield the same blessings as obedience and reverence towards God. It simply will not happen.

Instead of finding true fulfillment in God, we mistakenly seek it in fleeting pleasures and worldly achievements. This misguided pursuit not only neglects our spiritual growth but also violates the very purpose for which we were created. As John writes in 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV), “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Our love for God should surpass all other loves, ambitions, and desires, anchoring us in eternal truth and purpose. Underestimating the commitment and magnitude of loving Him with the honor and reverence He deserves is the biggest mistake any of us can make in life. We must align our hearts with His Will and seek His kingdom above all else. When we do, we’ll discover the true abundance and fulfillment that only He can provide. So, let’s refocus our priorities and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to loving God above all things, for in Him alone do we discover what life is really all about. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. 

“The Biggest Mistake in Life”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.