Love God and Love Others, Both for the Glory of God

Look back through the Old Testament and you will see a strong emphasis placed on compassion toward the needy. Jesus clearly marked the Christian's social responsibility when He said that loving God is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. It was not one or the other, it was both, and both for the glory of God. The mercy ministries Jesus did were not an end in themselves but were rather a means.