The Bible is the "Manufacturer's Instructions." If you buy an expensive electronic gadget, you will get a booklet of instructions along with it that tells you how to use it. You will be very careful to follow those instructions exactly, because you don't want that expensive gadget to blow up or be spoilt. In fact the manufacturer usually advises that the equipment should not be switched on or used until you have read all the instructions. Who manufactured us? God! Here in the Bible are the instructions on how we can function best as human beings. If you don't follow these instructions, you can mess up your life or your marriage. Many have done just that, because they did not do things God's way. Who can they blame for that? No-one but themselves.

Even many believers have messed up their lives because they have not been careful to follow the "Manufacturer's Instructions." Even for physical health, I believe the best thing to do is to obey the Scriptures first of all. When the Lord says, "I am your Healer," He means, "I am your health." We need to be healthy in order to serve God. And if you want to be healthy you have to follow certain laws concerning what you eat and what you don't. A glutton can never be healthy. God says, "Give attention to My words, for they are health to all their whole body" (Prov.4:20-22).

In the same way, to be spiritual, you must follow certain laws concerning spirituality. You have to humble yourself if you want grace, for God gives His grace only to the humble. You have to believe in order to receive something from God, for God gives us according to our faith. All these are spiritual laws. It will go well with us if you follow these laws.

In Deut 6:4, we read, "The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!" We don't worship three Gods. God is one in three Persons. Then in verse 5, the first commandment is described in another way. This is what Jesus quoted in Matthew 22:37: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." That is the first commandment. That means that we don't have any place in our hearts for family, property, job, or money - because ALL of our hearts is given to God. This is Instruction No.1 in the "Manufacturer's Instruction" Manual. Don't operate the human machine before you have obeyed this commandment. What will happen when you love your wife with all your heart. You will love your wife even better! You will love your neighbour better. You will even love your enemies, because you don't have any hatred in your heart anymore.

Jealousy, hatred, bitterness and all other sins against others are caused by not loving God with all your heart. The part of your heart that should be loving God is filled with jealousy. We overcome sin not by battling sin primarily, but by loving God with all our hearts. When we love God with all our hearts, the love of money and property and evil lusts will all go away. Consider a girl who is in love with Mr.A, who is not such a good person. Her parents try their best to stop her from loving him but they can't succeed. Then one day this girl meets Mr.B who is far more handsome, richer and a more pleasant person. Suddenly all her love for Mr. A disappears. How did that happen? That can be called "the expulsive power of a new affection". A new love drove out the first love. Apply this to the Christian life. Here you are lusting after so many evil things that God forbids. You try and try to give up these bad habits but cannot, because you love those lusts. Then one day, you see the glory of Jesus and begin to love Him with all your heart. What happens. This new love has driven out the old affections. Then we have no more interest in the things of this world. It's "the expulsive power of a new affection". This is the secret of victory over sin. Love God with all your heart and with all your soul - which means with all your intellectual power.the Lord should be the basis of all our service for the Lord.