“If we are under an infinite obligation to love God supremely, live to him ultimately, and take everlasting delight in him, because of his infinite glory and excellency, then the least disposition to disesteem him, to be indifferent about his interest and honor, or to disrelish communion with him; or the least disposition to love ourselves more than God, and be more concerned about our interest and honor than about his, and to be pleased and delighted in the things of the world more than in him, must, consequently, be infinitely sinful, as is self-evident” (Joseph Bellamy, from True Religion Delineated).
We are taking a short break from the thoughts of Tozer and focusing on this quote from Bellamy as he reflects on the applications of the Great Commandment. Man lives a life going to school and then to work as he gets older. He has a cycle of life and most people do not really come to grips with the meaning and purpose of life. Most seem to go through life just wanting to have an easy life and so they avoid all problems that they can. But man is under an infinite obligation to love God supremely in all things and at all times. This is a huge responsibility and man wants to run from it. He understands that he cannot really do that and so denies the real obligations of it. However, the obligations of it are still there whether man wants to face them or not. The Great Commandment stands as it is and it will never be lessened in its obligations or privileges.
Man is required to love God with all of his being in all things and at all times. Yes, I repeated that. It is hard to come to grips with it. I am to love God when I eat and when I sleep? I am to love God supremely as I go to the grocery store? Yes, He is the ultimate reason for all that I am to do. I am to take delight in Him because I am to love Him with all of my being. Surely, one may ask, “we are not to delight in God more than sports and sex and all of those other things?” Not only are we to love Him more than whatever we do, we are to do them out of love for Him. If we cannot love God in doing them, then they should not be done. Because of His infinite glory and excellency, it is right and good that He be loved like this.
But the Bellamy quote goes on and states the negative aspect as well. Loving God means that the least disposition not to esteem Him is wicked. The least indifference about His honor and glory is wicked. The least part of us that takes no relish in communion with Him is an act of wickedness. The least disposition within us to love ourselves or be more concerned about ourselves and our honor over His is wickedness. The delight and pleasure that a person has in the world and the things of the world more than in Him is infinitely sinful. The least disposition that we have not to do those things is infinitely sinful.
We can look at these using different words. Man is to love God with all of His being all of the time and in all that he does. Anything that is not love to and for God with the whole being is sinful. Just in case a self-righteous person is reading this, I hope that this crushes any self-righteousness that you have. Can it be that any man other than Jesus Christ has ever loved God with the whole of his being at any point in his life? How can man do anything but cry out from a humbled and contrite spirit that God is just in however He deals with us. How can man see any righteousness in him that is other than filthy rags (Isa 64:6). Oh how man needs the glory of grace as shown forth in the blood of the cross and the gift of imputed righteousness. How man should humbly cry out for God to be glorified through Christ because man is so weak in his love for the glory of God.
When this is applied to the Church, we can see why so many churches have given up trying to be God-centered. It is far easier to please man and do what it takes to soothe his conscience. It is hard stuff to proclaim the truth about the Great Commandment. It runs people off if they see the depths of their sin in light of the holiness of God and His righteous standards. It is easier to drop the standards of the church than it is to stand firm in order to please the living God. Whatever men may do in the name of love and of God, they cannot drop the reality of the standard of the Great Commandment. Until God changes the standard will remain the same. Just in case anyone has any hope for that, God is immutable in His holiness. It will not change. Worthy is He to be praised and worthy is the Lamb to receive glory, honor and praise.
God Loves... Himself 
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