Love of God and neighbor

But as this divine Master inculcates two precepts - the love of God and the love of our neighbour - and as in these precepts a man finds three things he has to love - God, himself and his neighbor - and that he who loves God loves himself thereby, it follows that he must endeavor to get his neighbor to love God, since he is ordered to love his neighbor as himself. He ought to make this endeavor in behalf of his wife, his children, his household, all within his reach, even as he would wish his neighbor to do the same for him if he needed it . . . (Augustine City of God p692)

There are three insights from Augustine's exposition of the two great commandments that leap off the page at me.

1. "He who loves God loves himself thereby . . ." Love of God, not love of self, is the starting place. He is the center of focus. When we obey the first and greatest commandment, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we find there our greatest satisfaction and joy. Contrary to what many would suggest, we do not need to be taught to love ourselves. (Jesus certainly never taught it.) Rather, when we love God as all in all, the self assumes its rightful place of humble adoration and does not even have to think about loving self because it is enthralled with God, and unspeakably happy.
2. "It follows that he must endeavor to get his neighbor to love God, since he is ordered to love his neighbor as himself." The only way for a Christian to love others is to help them to love God. For the Christian, anything less is a mere shadow of love.
3. "He ought to make this endeavor in behalf of his wife, his children, his household, all within his reach. . ."
The primary place where this love is expressed is to those within reach, specifically within one's own family. The most powerful expression of this love is prayer, through which the Spirit creates love for God in the hearts of others.