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Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, " Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (NAS, Genesis 1:26-28)
Related verses: Genesis 1:1, 2:7, 5:1-2, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalms 8:3-6, 100:1-5, 115:16, Isaiah 42:5-6, 64:8, Matthew 21:33-41, 25:14-30, Luke 16:1-13, Romans 1:20-22, 1 Peter 4:10.
Related verses: The Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 11:1, Psalms 9:9-10, 25:10, 32:10, 40:4, 84:12, 119:1-2, Proverbs 3:5, 3:27-35, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 5:19, 6:24, 12:50, Luke 6:46-48, 17:10, John 14:1-2, 14:15, 14:21, Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:22-25, 1 John 2:3-6, 3:24, 5:1-3.
... An expert in religious law, tried to trap [Jesus] with this question: "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (NLT, Matthew 22:35-40)
The English word "love" has many shades of meaning, but the "love" that Jesus spoke of is a translation of the Greek word agape. It means affection, benevolence, good-will, high esteem and concern for the welfare of the one loved. It is deliberate, purposeful, unselfish love rather than emotional, impulsive or self-serving love.
People of Jesus' time had adopted a fairly narrow idea of who should be considered a "neighbor," but in His Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus explained that we should extend our love to all people of the world and consider them to be our neighbors.
Related verses: Leviticus 19:18, 19:34, Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12, 10:19, 11:1, Proverbs 17:17, Matthew 5:38-47, 7:12-14, 25:31-46, Luke 6:27-36, John 13:34-35, 15:12-14, Romans 8:28, 12:9-21, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Galatians 5:13-14, 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, James 2:8, 1 Peter 1:22, 3:14-17, 4:7-8, 4:16-21.
Praise the Lord! For all who fear God and trust in him are blessed beyond expression. Yes, happy is the man who delights in doing his commands. (TLB, Psalms 112:1)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV, Matthew 6:25-33)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV, Romans 15:13)
People who manage to break out of selfishness and focus on caring for the needs of others find a sense of purpose and fulfillment far beyond any possible worldly gratification. The only way to find true happiness is to make other people happy. Life's meaning is not found in getting more, but in giving more!
"Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (TLB, Isaiah 58:10-11)
For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you." (TLB, Luke 6:38)
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (NAS, Philippians 2:3-4)
Each of us has something to give. Some have wealth, some have talents, some have time, some have compassion, some have wisdom. Whatever gifts we have been given, large or small, we should share generously. When we do, we fulfill God's purposes and find true meaning and satisfaction in our own lives.
Related verses: Psalms 1:1-2, 5:11-12, 16:7-9, 37:4-6, 41:1-2, 63:1-8, 84:11-12, 112:1-9, 119:1-2, Proverbs 14:21, 19:17, 21:17, 22:9, 28:27, Isaiah 56:1-2, 58:6-9, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Matthew 5:3-11, 11:28-30, 13:44, 19:16-21, Mark 10:17-21, Luke 6:20-23, 12:16-21, 18:18-22, 19:8, 21:1-4, John 4:13-14, 12:25, 14:27, 15:10-11, 18:36-37, Acts 20:35, Romans 5:1-2, 12:2-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3-5, 5:22-26, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, James 1:12, 1:27, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 John 2:15-17.
Many of us seek security and fulfillment in one or more of the worldly enticements in the list below. We live in the world, and many worldly activities are worthwhile, necessary and good in their proper place. However, they are not the things that give peace, satisfaction and meaning to our lives.
Related articles: What Does the Bible Say about Using Time, Talents and Wealth?, What Does the Bible Say about Love?