God's single rule of conduct

In Romans 13:9-10 Paul sketches out a number of commandments and then tells us that they are all summed up in one all-inclusive command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then he reasons that since love causes no harm to this “neighbor,” it is “the fulfillment of the law.” It appears that the purpose of the entire body of Old Testament legislation is relational – it has to do with how people relate to one another. Love for the other is the ultimate goal of biblical ethics.
         For the moment, forget the thou-shall-nots that seem to govern communal life – e.g., Thou Shall Not . . . kill, rob, cheat, hurt, smear, lust after, etc. They all point to attitudes or actions that are contrary to the well-being of others. Note that they do not point out ways in which you can benefit the other person, only ways in which you can keep from hurting him. Love is totally different; it does not deal with what you are not to do, but with what you are to do. Doing what’s right leaves little time to do what’s wrong. Love is the ultimate positive virtue of life. No need to memorize a zillion thou-shall-nots and constantly scoring yourself on progress toward being a good person. Just keep one thing squarely in mind, that is, God would have you “love your neighbor in the same way that you love yourself.”
         Love is an over-used word: We love a dip in the pool on a hot day, we love what someone has said, we love mother and father, we love our nation. Exactly what it means in each context must be taken into consideration. If I love what you just said I may say so, but I don’t salute it or break out in applause. That would be appropriate in a military setting or following a beautiful concert. Context determines. Love is primarily volitional; it is a relationship that calls for appropriate action. The young man who wants to express his love to a special young lady doesn’t say, “I’d climb the highest mountain for you, swim the widest ocean, and if it doesn’t rain tomorrow I’ll drop by.” Love is a verb. It has degrees of emotion depending what it is that you “love.” After a lengthy period over-seas, the returning soldier takes wife in his arms and a wave of deep emotion takes over bringing tears of joy. But that’s not what happens when you ”love” a good a good ballgame.
         The Christian life is a beautiful experience of giving it away bit by bit. What seems negative from a secular point of view is a rewarding experience for the believer. Jesus made it so clear, in language that everyone can understand, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25 NET; one of the few statements of Jesus that occurs in all four gospels). Love is powerful – so powerful that it replaces the entire moral legislation of the OT.